12,000 patients who come from 21 countries have been studied by the Population Health Research Institute regarding drugs that can stop CVD and many of the strokes and heart attacks they lead to. Out of the 50 million suffered, around 18million die.
Dr. Salim Yusuf said that with just 10% of those already at risk being helped, it could mean a better outlook for up to 30 million people. There have been three methods followed, and this includes two types of therapy. Statins that can lower cholesterol and blood pressure drugs known as antihypertensives are used and also a combination of the two.
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The studies are recorded as Hope-3 and are produced in the New England Journal of Medicine and covered those at risk rather than those already diagnosed. Statins improved 25% of patients while antihypertensives did not have as much of an effect on CVD patients, but showed some improvement for those with hypertension. Another 5% was added when both worked together.
Along with Dr. Yusuf was Dr. Eva Lonn and Lonn stated that the trials cleared up how to best manage cholesterol and blood pressure. It means that a solution can be brought to more people worldwide who were already at risk.
Countries who find antihypertensives and statins inexpensive will consider the findings of Hope-3 promising but certain parts of the world will still be pried out. The hope is that the prices continue to drop and will do so more and more as they are used more widely.
Source; Mcmaster.ca / eurekalert.org
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