Lecture 2 AI generated Flashcards
Describe the process of cardiometabolic diseases development over time.
Cardiometabolic diseases develop slowly over time due to long-term exposures. Initially, the body adapts to small abnormalities that can be measured in the blood.
List some examples of risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases.
Risk factors include smoking, age, diet, sex, physical activity, genetic factors, alcohol use, blood lipids, stress, blood pressure, body composition, diabetes mellitus, chronic inflammation, and other lifestyle and environmental factors.
Explain the concept of primary prevention in the context of cardiometabolic diseases.
Primary prevention involves taking measures to prevent the development of risk factors or diseases before they occur.
What is the significance of modifiable risk factors in cardiometabolic diseases?
More than 60% of the risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases are modifiable, including blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood glucose, and body mass index, which can be influenced by lifestyle choices.
How do cardiometabolic risk factors impact the body beyond the heart and blood vessels?
Cardiometabolic risk factors not only affect the heart and blood vessels but also impact organs like the kidney, brain, and eyes, highlighting the systemic nature of these diseases.
Describe the relationship between cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases according to the provided content.
Cholesterol is a strong risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality, with LDL-cholesterol being more important than total cholesterol. However, the relationship with stroke mortality is not as clear, as haemorrhagic strokes, which are more fatal, may not be strongly associated with blood cholesterol.
What is familial hypercholesterolemia, as mentioned in the content?
Familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic disorder caused by a defect in the LDL receptor, leading to high CHD risk.
How are Mendelian randomisation studies used to study the relationship between genotype, cholesterol levels, and cardiovascular events?
In Mendelian randomisation studies, genes are randomly allocated at conception and not influenced by environmental or lifestyle factors, helping to infer causal relationships. If there is an association between genotype, LDL-c, and cardiovascular events, it suggests LDL-c is a causal factor.
Define the difference between overweight and obesity based on the content.
Overweight is distinct from obesity, with the latter being more strongly related to cardiovascular diseases. Obesity, with higher prevalence in the USA and EU, poses a greater risk.
Explain the importance of identifying modifiable causal risk factors in disease prevention according to the content.
In etiological research, identifying modifiable causal risk factors like blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, obesity, and HbA1c is crucial for effective prevention strategies. Intervening on these factors can help prevent diseases.
Describe Rothman’s pie model for causality.
Rothman’s pie model explains that diseases can have multiple causes, with necessary causes that must be present may not be sufficient on their own, and sufficient causes that lead to the disease. It emphasizes that the cause of a disease is a combination of various factors.
Define individual risk vs population risk in the context of health.
Individual risk focuses on the risk factors and health outcomes for a single person, while population risk looks at shifting the overall distribution of risk factors in a group or community.
How does the Framingham risk score work in predicting CHD risk?
The Framingham risk score uses an algorithm based on data from the Framingham Heart Study to estimate an individual’s 10-year risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD). It considers various risk factors to make this prediction.
Describe the concept of risk markers in disease prevention.
Risk markers are factors like HDL-cholesterol or inflammation markers that are associated with a disease but may not be direct causes. They are useful for predicting disease risk but may not be suitable targets for prevention.
What is the difference between necessary cause and sufficient cause in disease development?
A necessary cause is a factor that must be present for a disease to occur, while a sufficient cause is one that alone or in combination with other causes leads to the disease.
