When to act—the appropriateness of cardiovascular disease intervention

Nearly 13 million people die each year from cardiovascular diseases and half of these deaths occur in developing countries. This article reviews the appropriateness of cardiovascular disease intervention and focuses on decision-making and the perpetual question: When is it more appropriate to act on available evidence rather than to await further evidence? A fundamental and justified principle in science is trying to falsify all formulated hypotheses. This sceptical or conservative approach can, however, hamper social development. It is therefore important for the scientist to distinguish between his role as a scientist and as a member of society. Medical, epidemiological and economic aspects are considered together with an assessment of the feasibility of different intervention strategies. This review, like many others, indicates that population-based interventions combined with an improved high-risk strategy are appropriate from society's point of view in spite of the fact that there are several unsettled questions which call for further research.

Disease · Environmental health · Epistemology · Intervention (counseling) · Pathology · Population · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Skepticism · Epidemiology · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology · Medicine · Psychology

• How to act - implementing health and safety promotion in organizations

  Open Access•Måns Rosén•Health Policy and Planning•2000

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