EPIDEM 240Cardiovascular Epidemiology

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally and the largest contributor to noncommunicable diseases (NCD). Their prevalence has dramatically risen in developing countries over recent decades. Both biological (e.g., elevated cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes) and environmental/lifestyle risk factors (e.g., socioeconomic status, nutrition, stress, physical activity) bear a strong relation to the likelihood of cardiovascular disease. Certain biological risk factors are also directly or indirectly affected by environmental/lifestyle factors. Overview of the descriptive epidemiology and global epidemic of cardiovascular disease. Review of landmark epidemiological studies of cardiovascular disease. Discussion of cardiovascular risk assessment and methods. Topics include epidemiologic, clinical-trial, and lifestyle-clinical management issues concerning dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and other key risk factors. Study also considers topics such as psychosoical factors, women and heart disease, and implementation of cardiovascular disease prevention guidelines.

Letter grading.