Noncommunicable diseases

 
 
 


Cardiovascular diseases (CVD)

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Strategic priorities of the WHO cardiovascular disease programme

The WHO programme on cardiovascular diseases is concerned with prevention, management and monitoring of cardiovascular diseases globally.  It aims to develop global strategies to reduce the incidence, morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases by:

  • effectively reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors and their determinants

  • developing cost-effective and equitable health care innovations for management of cardiovascular diseases

  • monitoring trends of cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors

Key areas of work

Key areas of work include:

  • reducing major cardiovascular disease risk factors and their social and economic determinants through community-based programmes for integrated prevention of noncommunicable diseases

  • developing standards of care and cost-effective case management for cardiovascular diseases

  • undertaking global action to enhance the capacity of countries to meet the health care needs of cardiovascular diseases

  • developing feasible surveillance methods to assess the pattern and trends of major cardiovascular diseases and risk factors and to monitor prevention and control initiatives

  • developing effective intercountry, interregional and global networks and partnerships for concerted global action

One of the strategies to respond to the challenges to population health and well-being by the global epidemic of heart attacks and stroke is to provide actionable information relevant to policy level, populations and individuals at risk.