By Samuel C. Waters, M.D. Cardiovascular disease has been the leading cause of death in Texas since 1950. Immense opportunities exist to save lives of Texans and improve the quality of their lives by addressing and monitoring risk factor reduction and by appropriate long term medical management. When we review the cardiovascular facts, the magnitude of the problem is awesome. Heart attack is the first symptom of CVD in one third of cases. Cardiovascular disease in women CVD claims twice as many women s lives as do all forms of cancer.
Stroke kills twice as many American women annually as breast cancer.
Reprinted with permission from Texas Medicine. We as Texas physicians must develop a system which consistently monitors risk factor reduction and monitors appropriateness of care in every patient. Numerous studies have demonstrated inadequate follow-up and treatment in even the most aggressive practices. Heart Care Partnership offers a platform from which such a system can be launched. Without true commitment to a locally developed, explicit protocol, and the systems to ensure coordination of care, many high risk patients are missed by even the most aggressive treatment advocates.