New cardiovascular findings a ‘total surprise’ says Yusuf
McMaster researchers Dr. Koon Teo (left) and Dr. Salim Yusuf recently led a cardiovascular study involving 155,000 people around the globe. Their findings regarding risk and incidence were completely unexpected.
Despite living with the highest risk factors for heart disease, people in high-income countries suffer less from serious cardiovascular disease, according to an international study by the PURE (Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology) collaboration and led by McMaster researchers.
The study also found that people in low-income countries — although living with fewer risk factors for heart disease — have a higher incidence of serious cardiovascular disease, including death.
“These findings were a total surprise,” said Dr. Salim Yusuf, lead author of the study being presented Tuesday to the European Society of Cardiology. Yusuf is a professor of medicine at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine and director of the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI).
The study followed 155,000 people from 628 urban and rural communities in 17 countries over four continents for nearly four years.
The international research team found risk factors for cardiovascular disease were lowest in low-income countries, intermediate in middle-income countries and highest in high-income countries. However, the incidence of serious cardiovascular disease such as heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and deaths followed the opposite pattern.
Hospitalizations for less severe cardiovascular diseases were also highest in the high income countries.
“These results in the high-income countries are likely due to earlier detection of disease, better hospital management of the disease and better prevention after an event,” said Yusuf. “While efforts to reduce the risk factors need to be pursued, there should be a major additional focus on strengthening health care systems.”
Co-author Dr. Koon Teo, a professor of medicine at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine and the Population Health Research Institute, agreed. “PURE emphasizes how important access to good health care is likely to be, as the differences in mortality rates between the richest and poorest countries are three-fold,” he said.
This study was funded by more than 25 organizations, including the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario and by unrestricted grants from several pharmaceutical companies.
