Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death and a major contributor to morbidity in the Western industrialized world. In the Netherlands about 40.000 patients die each year because of atherosclerosis, and approximately 145.000 patients are hospitalized because of its sequelae. Consequently, atherosclerosis introduces high costs for the community. Within the group of atherosclerotic diseases coronary atherosclerosis is most prominent. Studies of coronary heart disease (CHD) have led medical investigators suggest an association with CHD for at least 246 factors. For the vast majority cause and effect relationships have not been demonstrated. Yet, consideration of these factors provided clues to understand CHD etiology and to gain insight into possible preventive measures. The most important risk factors recognized today are smoking, hypertension, age, male gender and dyslipidemia.

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H.G. van Eijk (Henk)
Erasmus University Rotterdam
hdl.handle.net/1765/18414
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Cobbaert, C. (1997, October 8). The elusive Lp(a) lipoprotein: a cardiovascular risk factor after all? : serum Lp(a) levels in healthy and diseased populations : an epidemiological and clinical approach. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/18414