The Need to Scale-Up Research for Prevention and Control of Cardiovascular Diseases

ABSTRACT

Scaling up research is essential to prevent and contain the rapidly growing epidemic of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in low- and middle- income (LMIC) countries. Research funds are generally limited and need to be invested primarily to generate new knowledge on how to translate existing evidence into action and not for the discovery of novel causes and treatments. Problem-oriented health policy and systems research have a critical role to play in the effective implementation of a policy framework for addressing cardiovascular diseases. Research need to identify effective multistakeholder regulatory approaches that impact on diet, tobacco use and physical activity. Policy interventions that have the potential to reduce social gradient of major noncommunicable diseases (NCD) through the reduction of social stratification, vulnerability and exposure to risk factors also merit research. Macro and micro economic appraisals are required to assess the economic impact of risks and diseases and cost effectiveness of different types of health interventions in different settings. Appropriate resource allocation for medical technology need to be researched in order to maximize health benefits and equity in low resource environments. Important modifiers of health system effectiveness such as adherence of patients and performance of providers also need to be studied. Further, the widening gap between the need for long-term care and the capacity of welfare programs to fulfill that need and the limited economic capacity of LMIC, calls for research into new public financing mechanisms to provide financial protection care. Finally, the research agenda need to be pro-poor so that the social gradient related to CVD can be narrowed to contribute to progress towards the Millennium Development Goals.