Page 105 - Tallinn University

HARIDUSTEADUSED Tallinna Ülikooli üliõpilaste 2015/2016. õppeaasta PARIMAD TEADUSTÖÖD / Artiklite kogumik
bIoMARkERS
for CarDiovasCular Disease in esTonian aDulTs
SÜDAME-VERESOONKONNA HAIGUSTE BIOKEEMILISED RISKIFAKTORID EESTI ELANIKEL
I koht doktoritööde kategoorias
MARgIT kALDMäE
intrOductiOn
Although the death rates over the past 30 years are falling rapidly, more people still die annually from cardiovascular diseases than from any other cause. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are also the major public health concern in Estonia, killing approximately 10 000 people per year. In 2010 [1], Estonia was placed third among men and fourth among women. Considering the proportion of years lost due to heart diseases. Estonia was outperforming only the Russian Federation and Hungary and additionally Slovakia among women, Estonia also has one of the highest surgical disease treatment rates compared to other European countries [1, 2].
ere is no doubt about the importance of cholesterol in the development of atherosclerosis and in the prediction of coronary heart disease (CHD). Still, while e ective drugs that lower cholesterol and high blood pressure have been developed and the death rate is declining, cardiovascular diseases are still the main cause of illness and death in westernized societies. While the reduction of cholesterol is important in coronary heart disease prevention, this is true mainly for young men—among the elderly, high cholesterol levels give a certain advantage. is underlines the importance of other bio- chemical markers such as c-reactive protein, homocysteine, lipoprotein(a), brinogen. It has also been shown that these markers can provide important clinical information, while conventional markers are already taken into account [3]. For Estonia, such data has been scarce or lacking. is is the rst comprehensive study about the prevalence of CVD risk factors in Estonia undertaken with the aim of designing novel future interventions.
e aim of the current work was to investigate the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in Estonian adults and additionally evaluate the importance of conventional biochemical risk factors under unhealthy living conditions.
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