Summary

Risk factors that contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) include smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and impaired glucose tolerance. Many of these risks can be reduced with lifestyle modification (eg, improved diet and exercise); yet, the burden of disease remains high, particularly in the developing world. In an effort to address the global health challenge of CVD, the US National Institute of Medicine released a report, illustrating the global evolution of this epidemic and offering recommendations to manage this growing problem.