More Than 16 Million Americans Have Coronary Artery Disease

It is estimated that more than 16 million Americans have coronary artery disease (CAD) and 8 million have had a myocardial infarction (MI). Every year approximately 1 million will have a new myocardial infarction. Based on data from the Framingham trial nearly 50% of males and 30% of females over the age of 40 will develop coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is most commonly due to atherosclerotic occlusion of the coronary arteries. Atherosclerosis is a process that can involve many of the body’s blood vessels with a variety of presentations. When it involves the coronary arteries it results in coronary artery disease, the cerebral arteries; cerebrovascular disease (transient ischemic attack, stroke), the aorta; aortic aneurysms, the ileo-femoral and popliteal arteries; peripheral vascular disease, the mesenteric arteries; intestinal ischemia. Half of all deaths in the developed world and a quarter of deaths in the developing world are due to Cardiovascular Disease which are comprised of hypertension and the diseases caused by atherosclerosis.