A Secondary-Prevention Alarm Bell for Lower-Income Countries

Among survivors of coronary heart disease and stroke, those in lower-income countries were even less likely to observe key elements of a healthy lifestyle than survivors in wealthier countries.

How well do survivors of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in a variety of countries adhere to a healthy lifestyle? To find out, investigators prospectively assessed the prevalence of smoking, healthy eating, and regular physical activity among 153,996 adults (age range, 35–70) in 628 urban and rural communities in 17 countries from January 2003 through December 2009. Three of the countries were identified as high-income, 7 as upper-middle-income, 3 as lower-middle-income, and 4 as low-income.

Of the 7519 participants with self-reported CHD or stroke, 81.5% had never smoked or had quit smoking, 35.1% participated in high levels of work- or leisure-related physical activity, and 39.0% ate a healthy diet. Notably, only 4.3% of this group…

Reviewing Author

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

A Secondary-Prevention Alarm Bell for Lower-Income Countries

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Reviewing Author