Previous literature reported a small number of modifiable risk factors that might explain up to 90% of certain CVD subtypes. If and to what extent regional differences in risk factor levels contribute to new-onset CVD remains to be elucidated.~In the Global Cardiovascular Risk Consortium (GCVRC) we focus on five major cardiovascular risk factors: Body mass index, systolic blood pressure, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, current smoking, and diabetes. We aim to show the extent to which the distribution, population attributable risk, and predictive value of these factors differ geographically and by sex. Understanding of these issues is essential to guide regionally effective CVD prevention and therapy strategies, to determine residual risk, and to improve global cardiovascular health.~The GCVRC uses individual-level harmonized data from nearly 1.7 million individuals in 126 cohorts across 43 countries, categorized in 8 geographical regions (based on amodification of WHO regions) - North America, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Middle East, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Russia, Asia, Oceania.~Cox regression analyses and population attributable fractions (PAFs) for 10-year incident CVD are calculated for the five risk factors by geographical region and sex to determine the percentage of CVD burden that may be preventable by control of these risk factors.~The results will influence regionally adapted prevention strategies to reduce the global CVD burden.
The Global Cardiovascular Risk Consortium (GCVRC) comprises harmonized data from nearly 1.7 Mio individuals of 126 cohorts across 43 countries and aims to elucidate the distribution of five major cardiovascular risk factors (body mass index, systolic blood pressure, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, current smoking, and diabetes) and their impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD) by geographical region and sex.