Integrated Antihypertensive and Statin Treatment Protocols for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Glob Heart. 2024 Dec 10;19(1):93. doi: 10.5334/gh.1376. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

In low- and middle-income countries where the majority of preventable cardiovascular disease deaths occur, less than 10% of eligible patients receive statins for primary cardiovascular disease prevention. Since 2017, the Global Hearts initiative has implemented simple World Health Organization (WHO) HEARTS hypertension and diabetes treatment protocols. In this editorial, we propose an approach of integrating statin treatment into existing HEARTS hypertension and diabetes protocols as a way of expanding statin coverage in low-and middle-income countries.

Keywords: antihypertensive medicines; dyslipidemia; hypertension; simple treatment protocol; statins.

Publication types

  • Editorial

MeSH terms

  • Antihypertensive Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Cardiovascular Diseases* / prevention & control
  • Developing Countries*
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Hypertension* / drug therapy
  • Primary Prevention / methods

Substances

  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Antihypertensive Agents

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Resolve to Save Lives. Resolve to Save Lives is funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gates Philanthropy Partners, which is funded with support from the Chan Zuckerberg Foundation.