Burden of cardiovascular diseases in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 1990-2015: findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2015 study

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Authors: GBD 2015 Eastern Mediterranean Region Cardiovascular Disease Collaborators

Citation: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Vol.63(Suppl 1) : 137-149, 2018-05

MeSH: Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases / economics ; Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology* ; Cholesterol / blood ; Female ; Global Burden of Disease / statistics & numerical data* ; Global Health ; Humans ; Hypertension / epidemiology ; Mediterranean Region / epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Middle East / epidemiology ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years ; Risk Factors

Keywords: Burden of disease ; Cardiovascular disease ; Eastern Mediterranean Regio

Abstract: Objectives: To report the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) during 1990-2015.

Methods: We used the 2015 Global Burden of Disease study for estimates of mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of different CVD in 22 countries of EMR.

Results: A total of 1.4 million CVD deaths (95% UI: 1.3-1.5) occurred in 2015 in the EMR, with the highest number of deaths in Pakistan (465,116) and the lowest number of deaths in Qatar (723). The age-standardized DALY rate per 100,000 decreased from 10,080 in 1990 to 8606 in 2015 (14.6% decrease). Afghanistan had the highest age-standardized DALY rate of CVD in both 1990 and 2015. Kuwait and Qatar had the lowest age-standardized DALY rates of CVD in 1990 and 2015, respectively. High blood pressure, high total cholesterol, and high body mass index were the leading risk factors for CVD.

Conclusions: The age-standardized DALY rates in the EMR are considerably higher than the global average. These findings call for a comprehensive approach to prevent and control the burden of CVD in the region.