Prevalence and Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Attacks: A Case Study Analysis

Running Head: CARDIOVASCULAR ATTACKS
Cardio-vascular Attacks
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CARDIOVASCULAR ATTACKS1
Prevalence of CVA
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is a medical term referring to stroke, which occurs when the
blood flow inside a blood vessel suffers from a blockage, or if the blood vessel ruptures. The
individual suffering from a stroke can exhibit various symptoms from sudden headaches, nausea
to loss of balance and sensory or motor skills. The CVA can be mainly of two types- Ischemic
and haemorrhagic stroke, both of which result in the occurrence of hypoxia in the brain cells,
leading to their death. Cardiovascular diseases have been ranked as the second leading cause of
death under the Global Burden of Disease list. Demographically speaking, the average age range
of the incidence of stroke is from 55 to 80 years, even though many cases show that stroke can
occur at any age.
In Australia
According to the surveys held, there were about 1.1 million hospitalisations in each of the recent
years, due to the incidence of CVAs. In the years 2015-2016, several indigenous Australians
were hospitalised, with the death rate becoming twice that of the non-indigenous population of
Australia. Adults belonging to the age range of 18 to 95 were found to be prone to
cardiovascular attacks, mainly due to their lifestyle choices, as reported by the Australian Bureau
of Statistics (ABS) during the National Health Survey (Benjamin et al., 2018). The reasons on
which the prevalence of the attacks depend can be based on gender, socio-economic status,
cultural status, and more. The surveys successfully highlighted the following observations:
 The incidence of CVA is higher in lower socio-ecoomic groups than in higher socio-
economic groups.

CARDIOVASCULAR ATTACKS2
 The incidence was recorded to be around 67% for people belonging to the age range of
65 and over, especially for those belonging to the age range of 85 and over, who had 3
times that of the age range of 65 to 74.
 Prevalence of stroke was found to be approximately similar to that of men and women.
However, in some areas, the incidence of stroke seemed to be more in men than women.
 The biggest observation made was that like the older age group, the young adults having
unhealthy lifestyles and abusing addictive substances, were the main targets of these
cardiovascular attacks.
However, due to the active participation of the healthcare professionals and introduction of new
interventions and efficient emergency services, there has been a significant reduction in the
incidence or occurrence of these attacks.

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In USA
Surveys have showed that USA is one of the countries most affected by the incidence of CVA,
especially due to their fight with increased cases of obesity around the country. It has been seen
that each year in the US, stroke has killed more than 795,000 Americans. Out of the many CVA
cases, about 87% of them were due to Ischemic strokes (Cdc.gov, 2019). The reasons on which
the prevalence of the attacks depends can be based on gender, socio-economic status, cultural
status, race and more. The surveys effectively highlighted the following observations:
 Different races have been seen to have different rates of incidence of strokes, like the
coloured Americans have been seen to be more inclined to suffer from strokes than white
Americans.
 Age is one of the biggest factors for CVAs. Even though a stroke can happen to an
individual belonging to any age group, the stroke risk in more in individuals aged 65 or
above.
 Increased substance abuse among the youth and the increased prevalence of other health
issues like obesity has been one of the biggest contributors of CVA incidence.
To reduce the incidence of these CVA cases, the US government spends about $34 billion each
year on healthcare services, medications and for various new healthcare initiatives. The
government has taken initiatives to promote healthy lifestyle and incorporate healthy diet plans
to help reduce the occurrence cardiovascular diseases.