Countries with Fewer Procedures for Cardiovascular Disease Management Face Greater Premature Mortality from...

The rate at which low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are transitioning into high-burden states for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is currently posing a global health security threat. Not only cardiovascular disease (CVD) occurs earlier in these countries but also it is likely that individuals do not have access to adequate management procedures. The present study was undertaken to find the effect of availability of procedures for CVD management on premature mortality in NCDs and to juxtapose this with the prevalence of two main risk factors, hypertension and diabetes.

The World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory data were used, which include health-related data on its 194 member states. The correlation matrix was constructed for risk factors, income classification, availability of CVD management procedures, and premature NCD mortality. Multiple linear regression was done to find the association between availability of management procedures, income classification, and premature NCD mortality.

A negative correlation was observed between premature NCD mortality and income group and between premature NCD mortality and availability of CVD management procedures. Countries possessing fewer procedures for CVD management suffered a greater burden of premature NCD mortality, and this was in the form of a strong linear association. Income class and availability of CVD management procedures both independently affected premature NCD mortality. Each unit increase in income class and number of CVD management procedures reduced the premature NCD mortality by 7.9 and 2.8 units, respectively. The impact of both these factors on premature NCD mortality was statistically significant. Countries with higher prevalence of hypertension were seen to be possessing fewer CVD management procedures. Income groups also demonstrated disparities, with high-income countries bearing less burden of hypertension and having more ubiquitous CVD management resources.

The present study found that availability of CVD management procedures, such as thrombolysis, coronary bypass/stenting, and acute stroke care and rehabilitation, significantly reduce premature NCD mortality across the world. Countries that face higher burden of premature NCD mortality are not only the ones that are least prepared to manage them but also the ones that bear the greatest prevalence of risk factors like hypertension and diabetes. Making procedures for NCD management available in LMICs must be put on high priority on the global health agenda.