THE GLOBAL PROBLEM OF CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE

The greatest cause of death throughout the world today is noncommunica ble disease. In Western societies, coronary artery disease is a princi pal cause of death. In developing countries, the incidence of coronary disease is rising as well. Heart disease often occurs in younger pers ons in developing societies, resulting in a disproportionately greater number of years of life lost. The reason for this change in global pa tterns of mortality is that deaths from infectious diseases are declin ing, resulting in greater life expectancy and changing lifestyles.