cardiovascular risk factors Flashcards by Caitlyn Gallagher

Whats is the most common cause of premature death?

CHD

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How many people die prematurely in the UK from CHD?

43,000

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What is the leading cause of death worldwide?

cardiovascular disease

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What are examples of changes in habit that contribute to the global epidemic of CVD?

increases in smoking, dietary changes leading to increases in cholesterol, and rises in blood pressure levels

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What is atherosclerosis?

a progressive disease that is characterized by a buildup of plaque within the arteries

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How is plaque formed?

Plaque is formed from fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste, calcium, and fibrin
Plaque may partially or totally block the blood’s flow through an artery

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What two things can occur with these plaques?

bleeding into the plaque, or formation of a clot on the surface of the plaque. If either of these happens and blocks the artery, a heart attack or stroke may result

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What is the largest tissue in the body?

vascular endothelium

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What is an atherothrombosis?

a term used to describe the formation of an acute thrombus in a vessel affected by atherosclerosis

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Describe the progression of atherothrombosis?

normal
fatty streak
fibrous plaque
atherosclerotic plaque
plaque rupture/fissure and thrombosis
leading to MI, stroke, CVD, leg ischemia

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Name some CVD risk factors

alcohol
smoking
obesity
high BP
diabetes

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What are examples of modifiable risk factors for CVD?

smoking
obesity
lack of exercise

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What are examples of non modifiable risk factors for CVD?

personal history of CHD
Family history
Age
Gender

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Which cholesterol is strongly associated with increased CHD?

LDL and triglycerides

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What does a 10% increase in LDL lead to?

20% increase in CHD risk

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What are normal triglyceride levels?

2.3mmol/l

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What is the relationship between HDL and atherosclerosis and CHD

HDL cholesterol has a protective effect.

-The higher the HDL cholesterol, the lower the risk for atherosclerosis and CHD

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When does HDL cholesterol tend to be low?

When triglyceride is high.

-It is also lowered by smoking, obesity and physical inactivity

What happens when LDL receptor doesn’t work?

LDL doesn’t get absorbed and so leads to build up of plaque for atherosclerosis

Is total cholesterol a modifiable risk factor?

yes

What does a 10% reduction in total cholesterol result in?

15% reduction in CHD mortality and

- 11% reduction in total mortality

What are the effects of statins?

reduce CHD end points
reduce total and LDL cholesterol
It is pleotropic

What is pleotropic?

improves endothelial dysfunction
increased nittic oxide availability
antioxidant

What is xanthelasma?

build up of plaque deposits on the eyelids. may or may not be associated with hyperlipidemia

Whats a tendon xanthomas?

build up of plaques on tendons of fingers, patella, elbows, achilles

Whats tuberous xanthomas?

lipid deposits in the dermis and subcutis; papuler, nodular or plaques; extensor surfaces of large joints, hands, buttocks, heels, flexures

Whats eruptive xanthomas?

small reddish-yellow papules; buttocks, posterior thighs, body folds usually abrupt increase in serum triglyceride levels

Name a few diseases attributable to hypertension

- aortic aneurysm - MI - cerebral haemorrhage - blindness - left ventricular hypertrophy

What are the two types of hypertension?

essential hypertension and secondary hypertension

What is essential hypertension?

One with no underlying cause. | -makes up 90% of cases

What is secondary hypertension?

One with an underlying cause

What is the most common form of blood pressure elevation in people over 60?

isolated systolic hypertension

What link does BP have in CHD?

increasing systolic and diastolic BP are risk factors for CHD

What does hypertension treatment reduce the risk of??

- ischaemic heart disease - stroke - mortality

What percentage of hypertensives have other risk factors ie diabetes, smoking

more than 95%

What is the best drug treatments plan for hypertension?

-combination therapies are more efficient than titration of a drug

What is the link between diabetes and CVD?

diabetes is more powerful as a singe factor than hypertension, total cholesterol or smoking

Why is diabetes such a powerful risk factor in CVD?

oType 2 diabetes is associated with hypertension, abnormalities in lipoprotein metabolism and increased propensity to oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. Hyperglycaemia itself may accelerate vascular damage. Type 2 diabetes is also a hypercoagulable state with enhanced coagulation, decreased fibrinolysis, and platelet hyperaggregability

When do microvascular complications occur?

At onset of hyperglycaemia

When do macro vascular complications occur?

Before the diagnosis of hyperglycaemia

What is the link between diet and CVD?

Diet is very important. A Mediterranean diet could significantly reduce CVD.

What is the percentage difference in premature deaths from CHD in manual workers compared to non-manual workers?

premature death from CHD lower for non manual workers than manual workers (58% lower)

What is the link between deprivation and CHD?

More depraved more the risk of CHD?

What ethnicity has the highest death rate for CHD in UK?

South Asians