Reducing Heart-Disease Risk Saves Lives

Addressing some common risk factors for heart disease saves lives, a study has found. The study focused on Ontario, Canada. This province had about 7,600 fewer deaths due to heart disease in 2005 than there were in 1994. About 48% of the reduction was linked with prevention of heart disease. This includes addressing risk factors, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Medicines for these conditions were a major part of the change. Another 43% of the difference was due to improved treatments for people who already had heart disease. The reduction in death rate was most dramatic for people ages 75 to 84. The study was published in the May 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation wrote about it May 11.