The Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) comprises 22 countries or territories spanning from Morocco in the west to Pakistan in the east, and contains a population of almost 600 million people. Like many other developing regions, the burden of disease in the EMR has shifted in the past 30 years from primarily communicable diseases to noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cardiovascular mortality in the EMR, mostly attributable to ischaemic heart disease, is expected to increase more dramatically in the next decade than in any other region except Africa. The most prominent CVD risk factors in this region include tobacco consumption, physical inactivity, depression, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Many individuals living in the EMR are unaware of their risk factor status, and even if treated, these risk factors are often poorly controlled. Furthermore, infrequent use of emergency medical services, delays in access to care, and lack of access to cardiac catheterization affects the timely diagnosis of CVD. Treatment of CVD is also suboptimal in this region, consisting primarily of thrombolysis, with insufficient provision of timely revascularization. In this Review, we summarize what is known about CVD burden, risk factors, and treatment strategies for individuals living in the EMR. This information will hopefully aid decision-makers when devising strategies on how to improve CVD prevention and management in this region.

东地中海地区 (EMR) 由 22 个国家或地区组成，西起摩洛哥，东至巴基斯坦，人口近 6 亿。与许多其他发展中地区一样，EMR 的疾病负担在过去 30 年中已从主要的传染病转移到心血管疾病 (CVD) 等非传染病。EMR 的心血管死亡率，主要归因于缺血性心脏病，预计在未来十年内将比非洲以外的任何其他地区大幅增加。该地区最突出的心血管疾病风险因素包括吸烟、缺乏运动、抑郁、肥胖、高血压和糖尿病。许多生活在 EMR 中的人不知道他们的风险因素状况，即使接受治疗，这些风险因素往往得不到很好的控制。此外，不经常使用紧急医疗服务、延迟获得护理以及无法进行心导管检查会影响心血管疾病的及时诊断。在该地区，心血管疾病的治疗也不是最理想的，主要包括溶栓，没有及时提供足够的血运重建。在这篇综述中，我们总结了关于 CVD 负担、风险因素和生活在 EMR 中的个体的治疗策略的已知信息。这些信息有望在制定有关如何改善该地区 CVD 预防和管理的策略时帮助决策者。在该地区，心血管疾病的治疗也不是最理想的，主要包括溶栓，没有及时提供足够的血运重建。在这篇综述中，我们总结了关于 CVD 负担、风险因素和生活在 EMR 中的个体的治疗策略的已知信息。这些信息有望在制定有关如何改善该地区 CVD 预防和管理的策略时帮助决策者。在该地区，心血管疾病的治疗也不是最理想的，主要包括溶栓，没有及时提供足够的血运重建。在这篇综述中，我们总结了关于 CVD 负担、风险因素和生活在 EMR 中的个体的治疗策略的已知信息。这些信息有望在制定有关如何改善该地区 CVD 预防和管理的策略时帮助决策者。