Contributing to comprehensive cardiovascular care
Cardiovascular disease refers to heart, stroke and vascular disease and is ahead of cancer as a cause of death in Australia.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to all diseases and conditions of the heart and blood vessels. It affects 1 in every 6 Australians (over 3.2 million people, increasing to 1 in 4 by mid-century. An Australian dies every 10 minutes from CVD, of the 50,292 who died in 2004, 60% had not reached average life expectancy. (Source: The shifting burden of cardiovascular disease; Access Economics: 2005).
Some of the risk factors for CVD include high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, obesity and tobacco smoking. Half the Australian population over 25 have high blood cholesterol. 54% of Australian adults do not exercise enough and 60% of those over 25 are overweight, with a doubling in obesity since 1980. 24% of adults still smoke, although these trends are declining. (Source: The shifting burden of cardiovascular disease; Access Economics: 2005).
The direct health system costs of CVD are estimated at $7.6 billion in 2004 (11% of total health spending). The indirect financial costs incurred due to CVD are estimated at $6.6 billion in 2004. (Source: The shifting burden of cardiovascular disease; Access Economics: 2005).
Globally, AstraZeneca plays a major role in the development of new drug treatments for cardiovascular disease with the aim of offering sufferers longer and healthier lives. AstraZeneca offers one of the broadest range of drug treatments in this area and continues to search for new and innovative approaches to treat this common condition.Key products
- Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium)
- Atacand (candesartan cilexetil)
- Toprol-XL (metoprolol succinate)
- Zestril (lisinopril dihydrate)
- Tenormin (atenolol)
- Plendil (felodipine)
- Imdur (isosorbide-5-mononitrate)
- Betaloc (metoprolol)
Ongoing research aims to develop innovative new products in the areas of thromboembolism, dyslipidaemia, type II diabetes/insulin resistance syndrome, atrial fibrillation and ischaemic heart disease.