Everyone has been touched by cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), be it directly or through knowing someone who has had a heart attack, stroke, thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or any other disorders of the heart and blood vessels.
I want to get people talking about cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death and disability in the world!
Marie-France Tschudin, President, Innovative Medicines International & Chief Commercial Officer
![Infographic Infographic](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/2022-08/from-the-heart-infographic-1.jpg.webp?itok=Ro7_Pbup)
More than 18 million people die of CVD every year. It is the leading cause of death globally.1,2 In fact, CVD claims more lives than all cancers combined, and a staggering 34 people will have died from a heart attack or stroke in the last 60 seconds alone.3 Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) accounts for approximately 85% of these deaths.1
ASCVD is an umbrella term used to describe a variety of diseases that are caused by the build-up of fatty deposits - or plaque - in arteries.4
Many people do not experience any symptoms until the plaque in the arteries unexpectedly ruptures. This may lead to a heart attack or stroke.4
![3D Illustration of ASCVD 3D Illustration of ASCVD](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/2022-07/ascvd-illustration.png.webp?itok=bKoJX6En)
![Infographic Infographic](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/2022-08/from-the-heart-infographic-2.jpg.webp?itok=dsmMthUL)
What’s shocking is that 80% of premature heart disease and strokes are preventable.5 Marie-France Tschudin, President, Innovative Medicines International & Chief Commercial Officer, wanted to explore why this is still the reality for so many people and how we can tackle one of the world’s biggest healthcare challenges.