A look inside the arteries: moving from event rates to subclinical measures of disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still the most important cause of death worldwide, with ischaemic heart disease and stroke being the most frequent subcategories.1 Next to premature mortality, morbidity and reduced quality of life are consequences which can be devastating to the individual as well as to society. However, the final dreaded event, such as myocardial infarction, stroke or sudden cardiac death, caused by plaque rupture and thrombosis, presents only the very last stage of a disease process that has long been ongoing.2 The underlying pathology for most cardiovascular (CV) and many cerebrovascular events is atherosclerosis, a process that can start as early as in the first decade of life, resulting from a very complex aetiology.3 4 Work-related factors such as shift work, noise, physical workload, psychosocial stress and long working hours are occupational CVD risk factors that have been investigated for...
Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - Category: Occupational Health Authors: Tags: Commentary Source Type: research