Family-based interventions can help to prevent cardiovascular disease

ardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide, resulting in almost 18 million deaths every year.These include disorders of the heart and blood vessels, around 85% of people who die from CVD do so as a result of heart attacks or strokes.Although CVD is prevalent in every part of the world, 75% of deaths occur in low-and middle-income countries.India is no exception.With a population in excess of 1.3 billion, nearly one in three deaths are due to CVD.In addition, when compared to people in high-income countries, Indians are more likely to be diagnosed with CVD at a younger age, i.e. before 65 years old.This means that many people in India experience CVD when they are still of working age, placing a greater burden on families who may suffer from a loss of income.