The role of cardiovascular risk assessment in addressing prevention of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular complications of diabetes in South Asia

Abstract

In the face of the rising incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes in low-income and middle-income countries in South Asia, the most cost-effective and equitable strategies for prevention of heart attacks, strokes and vascular complications of diabetes need to be incorporated into primary care services. Health system and resource limitations in these countries call for directing preventive services and pharmacological treatment to people with high cardiovascular risk, identified by risk stratification using hypertension and diabetes as entry points. Absolute cardiovascular risk prediction scores should be used routinely in primary care. Individual management guidelines for hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes need to be replaced by integrated and simplified cardiovascular risk management guidelines.