Study Calls For Major Shift In Treatment Of Heart Disease

The first signs of plaque build-up in arteries should be warning enough to hit the panic button and start appropriate measures rather than adopting the wait-and-watch approach to prevent a heart attack or stroke, say the latest Lancet Commission recommendations on rethinking coronary artery disease.

- Rhythma Kaul

NEW DELHI: The first signs of plaque build-up in arteries should be warning enough to hit the panic button and start appropriate measures rather than adopting the wait-and-watch approach to prevent a heart attack or stroke, say the latest Lancet Commission recommendations on rethinking coronary artery disease, signaling the need for a major shift in the treatment of heart disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally.

The recommendations that focus on preventing blockages in arteries that develop due to accumulation of fat, cholesterol, etc., are in line with a recent school of thought that moves the focus to early diagnosis, prevention, and management for most diseases, with the ultimate objective being to save more lives and reduce the massive financial cost involved in treating end-stage diseases.

The recommendations say the current approach, "which focuses on diagnosing and managing coronary artery disease based on ischemia (restricted blood flow to the heart) and cardiovascular events, is flawed."