MELI PART 2

Using Technology to Address Cardiovascular Disease in Adults

Student’s name: Melissa Games

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Introduction

The primary cause of death globally is still cardiovascular disease (CVD), which disproportionately affects people with low and moderate incomes. The burden of CVD is still increasing because of lifestyle-related risk factors and health disparities, even with improvements in clinical care. Modern technologies like remote patient monitoring (RPM) offer excellent opportunities to enhance CVD management, early identification, and prevention as digital transformation changes the way healthcare is delivered. This study examines the global burden of cardiovascular disease, as well as how technology, specifically RPM, can facilitate successful treatments aimed at improving outcomes for adult populations.

Using Technology to Address Cardiovascular Disease in Adults

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for the world epidemic and has resulted in over 20.5 million deaths due to CVD in 2021 globally ([WHF], 2023). CVD is a cluster of conditions such as coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure with significant morbidity, costs, and reduced quality of life. All these conditions are being driven by preventable risk factors such as physical inactivity, poor diet, and hypertension. Thus, technology-delivered interventions, such as remote patient monitoring (RPM), are gaining prominence in CVD care, particularly among socioeconomically deprived populations where the expected delivery of healthcare is suboptimal. 

Global Burden of Cardiovascular Disease

All over the world, "CVD burden is growing more and more but mostly in low- and middle-income nations (LMICs) with over 80% of the worldwide total burden of mortality (WHF, 2023). Statistics from WHO confirm that in 2019, 17.9 million people died due to CVD, representing 32% of global deaths, and 85% were due to heart attack and stroke (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021). A sedentary lifestyle is a leading risk factor and contributed to an estimated 639,000 deaths and 9.9 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2019 (Luo et al., 2024)." There is a need for prevention interventions, including routine physical exercise and early treatment. Symptoms of CVD depend on the condition: coronary artery disease is symptomatic with angina (pain in the chest), and stroke can cause sagging of the face or weakness in an arm or leg. Diagnosis is usually based on a combination of ECGs, imaging, and blood tests. Treatment varies from change of lifestyle and drug treatments such as reduction of blood pressure drugs such as statins and beta-blockers to advanced surgery.

One of the most significant modifiable risk factors for CVD is physical inactivity. Sedentary lifestyles have been linked to hundreds of thousands of deaths per year and millions of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost globally. Prevention is essential to drecrease the expand of burden in cases of CVD. These include promoting a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stopping smoking.

Depending on the particular ailment, cardiovascular illness can manifest differently clinically. For instance, angina, or chest pain or pressure, is a common symptom of coronary artery disease, whereas sudden facial drooping, limb paralysis, or trouble speaking are symptoms of stroke. To avoid death or long-term problems, these symptoms need to be evaluated immediately.

CVD is often diagnosed using a combination of the patient's medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tools. Electrocardiograms (ECGs), echocardiography, cardiac imaging (e.g., CT or MRI), and blood tests such as troponin levels are commonly used to assess heart function and detect damage. Brain imaging using CT or MRI is essential for prompt diagnosis in situations of suspected stroke.

The disease's kind and severity determine the best course of treatment. The primary focus of initial management is frequently on changing one's lifestyle, which includes quitting smoking, improving one's nutrition, and increasing physical activity. Beta-blockers, statins to lower cholesterol, antihypertensives, and antiplatelet medications are examples of pharmacological therapies. To restore appropriate blood flow in more severe situations, surgical techniques such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) could be required.

References

Kassaw, M., Amare, G., Shitu, K., Tilahun, B., & Assaye, B. T. (2024). A cross-sectional investigation of cardiovascular patients' willingness to employ remote patient monitoring in a situation with restricted resources. Digital Health Frontiers, 6, 1437134. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11448358/pdf/fdgth-06-1437134.pdf

Luo, Y., Liu, J., Zeng, J., & Pan, H. (2024). Global burden of cardiovascular diseases attributed to low physical activity: An analysis of 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2019. American Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 17, 100633. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10877163/pdf/main.pdf

World Health Organization (WHO). (2021, June 11). Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(vcds)

World Heart Federation (WHF). (2023). World Heart Report 2023: Confronting the world's number one killer. https://world-heart-federation.org/wp-content/uploads/World-Heart-Report-2023.pdf