Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) - CVDs are the number one cause
of death globally: more people die annually from CVDs than from
any other cause (1). - An estimated 17.3 million people died
from CVDs in 2008, representing 30% of all global deaths(1). Of
these deaths, an estimated 7.3 million were due to coronary
heart disease and 6.2 million were due to stroke (2). - Low- and
middle-income countries are disproportionally affected: over 80%
of CVD deaths take place in low- and middle-income countries and
occur almost equally in men and women (1). - The number of
people who die from CVDs, mainly from heart disease and stroke,
will increase to reach 23.3. million by 2030 (1,3). CVDs are
projected to remain the single leading cause of death (3). -
Most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by addressing risk
factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity,
physical inactivity, high blood pressure, diabetes and raised
lipids. - 9.4 million deaths each year, or 16.5% of all deaths
can be attributed to high