title: Cardiovascular disease in Latin America: the growing epidemic.
abstract: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) produce almost a million deaths a year in Latin America (LA), becoming the main cause of death in the last years, and it is estimated that the number of deaths in the region attributable to CVD will increase in the near future. This new epidemic is a consequence of the demographic, economic and social changes observed in LA in recent years. Coronary heart disease and stroke causes 42.5% and 28.8%, respectively of the CVD mortality in the region. Chagas heart involvement and rheumatic heart disease, once a major health problem, are responsible of only 1% of the mortality each. Improving in socioeconomic status, increased life expectancy and high prevalence of risk factors for atherosclerosis have been the major determinants of this marked epidemiologic change.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de La Frontera, Facultad de Medicina, Temuco, Chile. Electronic address: lanastomas@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lanas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fernando
authors.affiliation: Universidad de La Frontera, Facultad de Medicina, Temuco, Chile. Electronic address: pamela.seron@ufrontera.cl.
authors.forename: Serón
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pamela
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Medicina, Santiago, Chile. Electronic address: alelanasm@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Lanas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alejandra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality; D058872:Epidemics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008017:Life Expectancy / Q000208:ethnology*; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Chagas disease; Latin America; Rheumatic heart disease; Stroke