Cardiovascular disease in the Americas: optimizing primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease
Jon-David Schwalm, Philip Joseph, Darryl P. Leong, José López-López, Oyere Onuma, Palki Bhatt, Álvaro Avezum, Marjan Walli-Attaei, Martin McKee, Yusuf Salim
Abstract
While, many interventions can prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), and its resulting morbidity or mortality, these are used sub-optimally in most countries. Therefore, health systems need to develop new approaches to ensure that proven CVD therapies are delivered widely. In this review, we describe five impactful implementation strategies which include: (1) Task shifting, (2) Use of mobile-Health (mHealth) support and virtual access to care, (3) simplified diagnostic and management algorithms for the prevention of CVD, (4) improving the use of combinations of medicines (i.e., polypill), and (5) patient engagement and role of patient-nominated peer support (i.e., treatment supporters). Adapting and tailoring these strategies to the local context in different settings in various countries in the Americas and the Caribbean can reduce the morbidity and mortality of CVD substantially.