- Medications are the cornerstone of treatment and prevention of heart disease and more than 40% of the decline in CAD mortality observed over the past decades is attributed to the application of evidence-based therapies.1, 2
- Medications are the foundations of secondary prevention and have a crucial role in controlling blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol in primary prevention.
- Many individuals and populations have strong aversion to take prescription medication and instead choose unproven and unsafe alternative medicines.
- Demonstration of silent heart disease (Coronary Artery Calcium Score >400) has been shown to increase the likelihood of initiation and continuation of appropriate medications.3
1. Choudhry NK. Improving the pathway from cardiovascular medication prescribing to longer-term adherence: new results about old issues. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. May 2010;3(3):223-225.
2. Ford ES, Ajani UA, Croft JB, et al. Explaining the decrease in U.S. deaths from coronary disease, 1980-2000. N Engl J Med. Jun 7 2007;356(23):2388-2398.
3. Nasir K, McClelland RL, Blumenthal RS, et al. Coronary artery calcium in relation to initiation and continuation of cardiovascular preventive medications: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. May 2010;3(3):228-235.