Archive for month: August, 2020

The many advances in cardiovascular diagnostic imaging technology, interventional procedures, drug development and elucidation of risk factors have resulted in a steady reduction in deaths from cardiovascular disease in most European countries. However CVD still remains the leading cause of mortality in Europe, with an annual toll of 4.3 million deaths, and experts predict that, with the ageing population as well as lifestyle changes that are increasing the prevalence of obesity and Type 2 diabetes, we are now facing a CVD epidemic that could overwhelm our health services.
Because of effective dissemination of information on CVD, people are increasingly aware of the modifiable risk factors, which include tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption, a paucity of suitable exercise and a high fat and sugar diet. Many patients also know that statins, which reduce Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol levels, can be taken for primary prevention of CVD; some even expect these drugs on demand. Indeed over 10% of UK residents now take statins, and The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently updating its guidelines to recommend statin therapy if the assessed risk of developing CVD within 10 years is 10% (the previous guidelines stated 20%). The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology

Interventional cardiology, like minimally invasive surgery, has for decades been driven by miniaturization. New lightweight, biocompatible and sometimes self-expanding materials (for catheters and stents), alongside sophisticated digital imaging algorithms, have been the key technology enablers. These, in turn, have reduced vascular complications and hemostasis as well as the use of contrast agents

Escalating costs make new business model unavoidable
There is still no consensus about where hospitals should be positioned in the healthcare service spectrum of the future. However, it is widely accepted that relying wholly on growth in patient numbers, bed-days and on more expensive equipment, procedures and physicians has become untenable.
Some hospitals are enthusiastically embracing change. Many more remain cautious. Few however doubt that spiralling healthcare costs will force hospitals to be funded and operated via new business models, more akin to that of other economic sectors.