DALLAS and MEXICO CITY, June 2, 2022 — In Mexico, 56.1% of adults have high levels of LDL-C or bad cholesterol[1], considered the main risk factor for cardiovascular disease and cause of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), a buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances inside the arteries and on their walls, which can cause narrowing of the arteries, obstructing blood flow. The American Heart Association®, the world's leading force for longer, healthier lives, has launched a new implementation science program in Mexico focused on improving care for patients with ASCVD, also known as atherosclerosis, made possible with funding by Novartis.
The American Heart Association implementation science initiative identifies, develops and integrates clinical best practices and workflows into the routines of the healthcare professionals. Standardizing the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases is a key tenet of the quality improvement initiatives the American Heart Association implements around the world.
Currently, only 2/3 of the population in Mexico with ASCVD receive any type of treatment.[2] Of them, less than half are treated and of these, 45% are uncontrolled and do not adhere to treatment.[3]
"Reducing LDL-c cholesterol levels in a consistent and sustainable way is key to preventing atherosclerosis and with it, the complications caused by this disease such as myocardial infarction, heart failure and stroke," said Jorge Saucedo, M.D. MBVA, FAHA, volunteer expert for the American Heart Association and professor and division chief for the Heart and Vascular Center at Froedtert Hospital for the Medical College of Wisconsin. "The American Heart Association and professional societies like the Mexican Society of Cardiology and ANCAM (National Association of Cardiologists of Mexico) are working together to convene public and private health institutions to comprehensively combat this disease."
The initiative will teach the correct application of quality improvement strategies, provide hospital consultation and data review and generate evidence that helps to highlight both the successes and the current and future challenges in cardiovascular care. Leveraging its 20+ years of experience in quality improvement, the American Heart Association will be utilizing its U.S. based Get With The Guidelines registry for data collection, furthering expansion opportunities for benchmarking and research.
"By supporting this initiative, we aim to detect and apply correct treatment for this disease and slow its progression," commented Viviam Ubiarco, M.D., chief science officer of Novartis Mexico. "The impact of these actions will be reflected in the reduction of heart attacks, hospitalizations, and deaths, which in many cases represents a high cost to the health care system and affects the quality of life of the patient."
Giselle Roman, M.D., therapeutic-area head of cardiovascular diseases in Novartis, added, "By educating the population and creating a sense of urgency for health serving institutions, we can improve the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, an invisible pandemic in Mexico."
About the American Heart Association
