Drug adjustment of modified risk factors as one of the leading strategies for managing patients with cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number 1 cause of death globally. Risk factors for CVDs may trigger the development of pathological conditions to a certain degree. The cardiovascular continuum is a continuous chain of interconnected changes in the cardiovascular system from exposure to risk factors via the gradual onset and progression of CVD to the development of terminal heart damage and death. The continuous chain of interconnected changes in the structure and function of several body organs and systems at once within the continuum suggests the presence of common pathophysiological processes, mechanisms of development and progression of organ damages. The drug’s ability to affect all stages of the cardiovascular continuum defines the choice of modern pharmacotherapy for cardiological patients. Using drugs with multi-target (multi-purpose) action is one of the possibilities for optimizing pharmacotherapy. The provided results of clinical studies show that drugs meeting this requirement include ACE inhibitors (ramipril), beta-blockers (metoprolol), lipid-lowering drugs (combination drug rosuvastatin/ezetimib), allopurinol. The choice of drugs for pharmacotherapy of patients with cardiovascular diseases should be based on the presence and severity of all risk factors and associated conditions and taking into account the individual characteristics of the drugs. Patients with chronic heart disease usually need lifelong therapy, and search for the best individual treatment for each patient is crucial. Using drugs with multi-target (multi-purpose) action is one of the possibilities for optimizing treatment.

Keywords

• cardiovascular disease
• cardiovascular continuum
• modified risk factors
• primary and secondary prevention
• multitarget therapy