ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading component of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Atherosclerotic and hypertensive diseases, mainly ischemic heart disease and stroke together with heart failure, whether resulting from ischemic heart disease or other causes, are the major CVD entities and represent the most important threats for population health in the twenty-rst century. Ischemic heart disease and stroke have been projected for the year 2020 to rank rst and second in frequency among causes of death, rst and third among causes of years of life lost, and rst and fourth among causes of disability-adjusted years of life lost, respectively [1]. In summary, CVD still remains the leading cause of death worldwide and a major cause of disability [1]. Furthermore, the projections of mortality from CVD for 2030 are somber and cumbersome [2].
