Part 2 of 2
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. The two biggest killers are coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. In part 1 we saw that women and men experience cardiovascular disease differently, but there are also differences in how women and men in low-income and high-income countries are affected.
Note: all rates are per 100,000 people (age-standardised).
The higher the rate, the more deaths that occurred.
Sources: GHDx & The World Bank
Sources: GHDx & The World Bank
1. a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of less than US$996 (in 2017)
2. a GNI per capita above US$12,055 (in 2017)
Poverty is closely linked with chronic, or Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as CVD, CHD and stroke. People experiencing vulnerability and social disadvantage get sicker and die sooner than people of higher social positions. This is partly because they are at greater risk of being exposed to harmful products such as tobacco, or unhealthy dietary practices. They may also have limited access to health services.
The rapid rise in NCDs is predicted to impede poverty reduction initiatives in low-income countries. NCDs often require lengthy and expensive treatment, and healthcare costs can quickly drain household resources.
Breadwinners may lose their income as a result of experiencing one or more NCDs, and other family members may have to give up their jobs in order to act as carers, leading to a family's finances deteriorating catastrophically.
Read more at WHO
Globally, mortality rates for CVD, CHD and stroke have decreased over the last 10 years (2007-2017). However, in some countries - almost all of them low- and middle-income - the rates have increased.
Note: all rates are per 100,000 people (age-standardised).
The higher the rate, the more deaths that occurred.
rates :
rates :
Global rate :
Sources: GHDx & The World Bank
(less than US$996)
(US$996 - US$3,895)
(US$3,896 - US$12,055)
(US$12,056+)
CVDs such as CHD and stroke are a major cause of premature death and disability in India, and many people in rural villages have little or no access to adequate healthcare. In Andhra Pradesh, where the average income is around US$50 per month, heart disease is now the most common cause of premature death and disability among people of working age, and a key contributor to both household and regional poverty.
While health service coverage is patchy, wireless networks now reach over 80% of India's population, so The George Institute has trialled a mobile based service that targets high-risk patients with both treatment and monitoring. Called SMARThealth India (for Systematic Medical Appraisal, Referral and Treatment) it has the potential to revolutionise the delivery of essential healthcare to those who previously had little or no access.
In India in 2017 there were:
2.6M deaths due to CVD
1.5M deaths due to CHD
0.73M deaths due to stroke
Note: all rates are per 100,000 people (age-standardised).
The higher the rate, the more deaths that occurred.
Source: GHDx & The World Bank
In India, even a 1% reduction in the number of deaths due to CHD and stroke would save around 22,700 lives per year.
Based on GHDx data for 2017
