Via practica 4/2020

How to reduce cardiovascular diseases mortality and morbidity in Slovak republic

Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke are the world’s biggest killers. The good news is that 80 % of cardiovascular diseases can be prevented with healthy lifestyle habits. The most effective approach to improve this situation is the reduction of risk factors levels. Small positive shifts of risk factors, across a whole population consistently leads to greater reductions in disease burden than the huge investment to the new drugs and devices including invasive procedures. We present some concrete examples of daily menu, adequate exercise proposals and obesity management how to reach recommended risk factors values. For the health care system of Slovak republic are concrete proposals presented with the aim to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and prolong averaged value of healthy life. Proposed proceeding include long term monitoring of patient´s risk factors and basal obesity management in primary care, nurse led clinics establishment and introducing of positive economic stimulation to decrease levels of risk factors in population by health insurance companies. In the specialized sphere include implementation of ambulatory cardiovascular rehabilitation in cardiology care centers. In the public health area include changes in food groups taxing according to their health effects and implementation of the clinical excellence centrum to publish official information and advises for both public and experts in the field of preventive medicine and the new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Keywords: cardiovascular risk factors, nutrition, cardio-training, health policy, health insurance companies