Risk Factors and Cardiovascular Disease of Urban Population

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the global burden of cardiovascular disease. It discusses the increase in cardiovascular and other chronic diseases; and then provides estimates of the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) with specific focus on the developing countries and the difference between rural and urban areas, the main differences being the different life-style, each one including specific risk factors. The second part of this article describes the burden of CVD by specific region or ethnic group, the relevant risk factors, and possible strategies for prevention. Material and Methods We tried to synthesise the scientific data available in various articles in order to provide an overall view of the impact cardiovascular diseases have on a global level and underlining the differences between social, economic, genetic end environmental risk factors.