1. DYSLIPIDEMIA AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Professor Jean-Charles Fruchart
Department of Atherosclerosis (Inserm UR545)
Pasteur Institute of Lille
University of Lille II
France

2. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among adults worldwide (1996)
Coronary disease million
Cancer
Cerebrovascular disease
Acute lower respiratory tract infections 3.9
Tuberculosis
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) 2.9
Diarrhea (including dysentery) 2.5
Malaria
AIDS
Hepatitis B
Figure 1 Atherosclerosis (AS) is the leading cause of death in adults worldwide. There are 11.8 million deaths per year from cerebrovascular and coronary disease combined – almost double that from cancer.

3. Coronary mortality: alarming worldwide forecasts
Figure 2 The coronary mortality rate is increasing alarmingly and is predicted to rise from 8 million deaths in 2000 to 11 million in 2020.

4. Atherosclerosis: a multifactorial disease
Figure 3 Traditional risk factors include age, male sex, dyslipidemia, hypertension, smoking, and diabetes. More recently identified risk factors include obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.

5. Main risk factors for coronary heart disease
Figure 4 The relative risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) associated with each of the major risk factors is well known. The risk factors in order of importance are diabetes, hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia and obesity.

6. Global projections for the diabetes epidemic: 1995-2010
Figure 5 The diabetes epidemic is a major contributory factor to the increasing prevalence of AS and its worldwide prevalence will almost double by This is of particular importance in developing countries (e.g. those in South America, Africa, and Asia).

7. Atherosclerosis
Figure 6 Atherosclerosis is a silent killer with plaques forming early in life, developing progressively over time. Clinical manifestations of AS commonly involve the brain, heart, and legs.