Government Continues to Have an Important Role in Promoting Cardiovascular Health

Publication date: Available online 3 January 2018 Source:American Heart Journal Author(s): Gordon Tomaselli, William H. Roach, Ileana L. Piña, Matthew E. Oster, William H. Dietz, Katie Horton, William B. Borden, Kelly Brownell, Raymond J. Gibbons, Jennifer J. Otten, Christopher S. Lee, Charles Hill, Paul A. Heidenreich, David S. Siscovick, Laurie P. Whitsel Government investment has facilitated remarkable advances in cardiovascular science and medicine. It is vitally important that government engagement and investment continue as the US population faces unprecedented rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, sedentary behavior and poor diet. Importantly, health disparities are increasing by geography, race/ethnicity, and income. These poor health metrics threaten to erode the tremendous gains in life expectancy achieved in recent decades. Government investment in population health, research, clinical outcomes, and access to care are critically important. We examine how government investment in research has promoted ideal cardiovascular health and can now promote the development of new and effective approaches to both cardiovascular health and better disease management for all. This paper responds to the commonly raised concerns of paternalism regarding government intervention and outlines the potential benefits and risks to society of government-industry partnerships and industry initiatives that may supplement government efforts in improving cardiovascular ...

Source: American Heart Journal - January 4, 2018 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research