A global group of experts has called for a major shift in how coronary artery disease (CAD) is treated. In a new report published in The Lancet, the Commission urges doctors to focus more on early prevention and cure rather than only treating the late stages of the disease.
The Commission includes over 20 specialists from around the world. Among them is Associate Professor Sarah Zaman, a cardiologist at Westmead Hospital and Principal Research Fellow at the Westmead Applied Research Centre in Western Sydney. Other contributors include Professor Will Parsonage from QUT and Professor Stephen Nicholls from Monash University, along with experts from the UK, China, Thailand, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Researchers predict it will cause 10.5 million deaths each year by 2050.
The disease happens when plaque—a buildup of fat, cholesterol, and other substances—clogs the arteries. This reduces blood flow and causes symptoms such as chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, and heart attacks.
The main causes of heart disease progression are lifestyle factors like poor diet, high cholesterol, and smoking.
Currently, doctors mostly treat the disease’s acute symptoms, such as heart attacks and angina, often using stents to open blocked arteries. However, this approach means treatment usually begins only after the disease has already advanced.
Associate Professor Sarah Zaman said heart disease is often seen as a problem that develops only in older adults. “But the risk actually starts before birth,” she explained. “Signs of coronary artery disease can be found even in children and adolescents.”
She added that early stages of CAD often go unnoticed. This means many patients miss the chance to make changes that could prevent the disease from worsening into serious events like heart attacks or strokes.
The Commission calls on governments, healthcare funders, and clinicians to prioritize research on early detection methods.
This includes using advanced CT scans to spot plaque buildup before symptoms appear.
The experts also recommend public health campaigns and targeted screening programs to address lifestyle risk factors such as smoking, poor diet, and lack of exercise.
If these risk factors were eliminated by 2050, deaths from coronary artery disease could fall by more than 80 percent, potentially saving 8.7 million lives every year.
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