title: Contributions of treatment and lifestyle to declining CVD mortality: why have CVD mortality rates declined so much since the 1960s?
abstract: Developed countries have enjoyed substantial falls in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. However, low and middle income countries are drowning in a rising tide of CVD and other non-communicable diseases. Current and future trends in CVD mortality will therefore require increasing attention in the 21st century. The success of clinical cardiology in providing evidence-based cost-effective treatments should be celebrated. However, the growing understanding of CVD mortality trends highlights the crucial role of tobacco, diet, alcohol and inactivity as key drivers. Pro-active public health approaches focused on 'upstream' population-wide policies are increasingly recognised as being potentially powerful, rapid, equitable and cost-saving. However, the future political challenges could be substantial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Healthand Policy, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. moflaher@liverpool.ac.uk
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Flaherty
authors.forename: Iain
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Buchan
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capewell
mesh_terms: D002309:Cardiology / Q000379:methods*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D005544:Forecasting; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends