CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
in Latin America

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a group of conditions affecting the heart, generally conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain, heart failure or stroke. CVD is commonly caused by elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the blood which causes damage to the arteries (atherosclerosis) and can be preventable. Due to the fact that LDL-C is the root of the issue, it is also known as the “bad cholesterol.” Common risk factors include increasing age, being male, a family history of CVD, smoking, particular chemotherapies or radiation therapies, poor diet, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, stress and poor hygiene.

In December 2019, AHF convened a meeting of Latin American experts on CVD in Latin America to develop recommendations for increasing the early diagnosis, treatment, and effective management of CVD in the Region through the review of literature on LDL-C.  The resulting article, "ASCVD in LATAM: A Call for Action on LDL-C Reduction", has been published in Authorea. Click here to read this publication.