Cardiovascular disease remains South Africa's number one killer and costs the economy billions every year.
That's according to Dr Tienie Stander of The Health Monitor Company. "The total private in-hospital cost of all major heart events is estimated to be R3,7-billion per annum and the total cost of strokes is estimated at R119-million for 2003," said Stander.
These costs exclude related rehabilitation and out-of-hospital costs. Stander said the direct cost of heart disease and stroke in South Africa in 2003 is estimated to be between
R9-billion and R11-billion.
"The indirect costs of cardiovascular disease, such as absenteeism and loss of productivity is impossible to calculate," said Stander.
A study by the Medical Research Council (MRC), indicated that 32 919 South Africans died of heart disease in 2000. A total of 32 114 died from having a stroke. A leading cause of cardio-vascular disease is atherothombosis - a partial or complete blockage of blood vessels.
"A thrombus can partially or completely block a blood vessel, which may result in a heart attack or stroke," Stander said.
Another cause of a thrombus is peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which effects the arteries transporting blood through the body.
"PAD is a devastating disease affecting the lives of millions of people and yet it is often undiagnosed," Stander said.
If PAD is managed and treated correctly, it reduces the chances of a patient dying from cardiovascular disease.
According to Stander, international data available shows a reduction in death from 11,5 percent to 9,3 percent if PAD is diagnosed and treated.
Recent research has indicated that more than one million South Africans experienced PAD symptoms while statistically, only 115 000 confirmed patients have been diagnosed with the condition.
A prominent symptom of PAD is pain in the legs when walking and according to Stander, one in five adults admit to these leg pains.
"Most people attribute this symptom to old age," said Stander.
Both male and females are prone to PAD and 82 percent of patients diagnosed are over 50 years of age, with only 25 percent receiving medication for the disease.
"Most people with PAD, even those who are symptom free, are six times more likely to suffer a fatal stroke or heart attack than people without PAD," said Stander.
A positive PAD diagnosis left untreated will lead to a 40-50 percent risk of a cardiovascular incident over a period of 10 years, according to Stander.