The prevention of cardiovascular disease worldwide: whose task and WHO's task?

Cardiovascular disease is the commonest chronic illness in both developed and developing countries, causing the most deaths and the greatest impact on morbidity. The superiority of disease prevention over treatment was appreciated at least 5,000 years ago in China. The link between the existence of disease in society and the political and social circumstances of a country was emphasised by Virchow in the nineteenth century. The scientific basis and methods for prevention of cardiovascular disease are known. What are lacking are the will and the means to implement change. The well-intentioned often have a dominant sense of entitlement in the pursuit of the common goal of disease prevention. There is a failure of many organisations to acknowledge the importance of other groups within society in achieving the common goal. Doctors, particularly cardiovascular physicians and cardiologists, must play a much greater role in linking with the public, other health workers, epidemiologists, media, industry, academia and politicians. Too many vested interests obstruct progress in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.