(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- There is no easy way out for those battling
vascular disease. Despite treatments and medications, a large international
study shows patients have high rates of multiple heart attacks and strokes
that may lead to hospitalizations and death.
The international REACH (Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health)
Registry, presented by a researcher from Northwestern University Feinberg
School of Medicine examined data of over 30 thousand patients. Patients who
had vascular disease had a 28.4 percent rate of reoccurring attacks just
after three years of their last vascular episode. The data presented also
named North America, including the United States, as having above average
rates for recurring heart attacks, strokes, hospitalizations and death.
"We are surprised by the high rate of these recurring vascular events," Mark
J. Alberts, lead author, M.D. professor of neurology at the Feinberg School
and director of the stroke program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital was
quoted as saying, "We know how to prevent vascular disease and the events
that it produces. This points to the need for better prevention, better use
of medications and a need to develop more potent medications. These are the
number one and two causes of death throughout the world."
The cost of recurring vascular events in the United States alone is in the
billions. Hospitalization is the leading factor driving health care costs.
Adopting healthy lifestyles, with a healthier diet, and regular exercise are
necessary to reducing health care expenses and the likelihood of reoccurring
heart attacks, and strokes according to researchers.
SOURCE: European Heart Journal, August 31, 2009
