Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the United States; most deaths are due to a heart attack. Each year approximately 1.1 million people in the United States will suffer from a heart attack with nearly 450,000 resulting in death. Approximately 220,000 people a year die suddenly of a heart attack without even being hospitalized.

Vascular disease is caused by atherosclerosis, a condition in which the arteries supplying blood to the areas and organs of the body such as the arms and legs (peripheral vascular disease or PVD), head (cerebral artery disease/strokes), and kidneys (renal vascular disease) etc. become narrowed or clogged reducing blood flow. Peripheral vascular disease accounts for the largest volume of non-cardiac vascular disease, affecting more than 10 million people in the United States. Peripheral vascular disease is the leading cause of amputation in the United States, with the annual limb loss rate at 2% among non-diabetic patients and 7% among diabetic patients.

Clinical literature indicates that PVD is one of the most under treated diseases in the country due to the fact that over 50% of people with PVD are asymptomatic and, therefore, are not identified and treated soon enough to prevent or slow down the progression of the disease. As many as three-fourths of all symptomatic PVD patients are found to have significant coronary artery disease (CAD) as well; in fact, the risk of death from coronary artery disease increase fivefold for those with symptomatic large vessel PVD.

Given the aging population and the rise of the baby boomers, the prevalence of PVD is expected to increase significantly in the years to come---projected at 40% between 2000 and 2020.

With regards to cerebral vascular disease, the most significant risk is a stroke. Nearly one quarter of all strokes are fatal, the third largest cause of death in the United States. South Carolina has one of the highest, if not the highest stroke rates in the country.

Not only is cardiac disease a health problem for this country, but also it is a significant problem in our State and our community. RSFH recognizes that South Carolina ranks among the top 5 states in the country for the incidence of cardiac disease (and those contributors such as diabetes, hypertension and smoking that increase the risk of cardiac and vascular disease).

Given South Carolina’s extraordinarily high incidence of diabetes, hypertension, and tobacco abuse, leading to atheresclerosis and the subsequent development of PVD and coronary heart disease, South Carolinians are at significant risk of increased mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular disease. It is certainly in line with our mission, that Roper St. Francis Healthcare position itself to efficiently and effectively identify, diagnose, and treat these patients and minimize the adverse effects on our communities.