The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has partnered with the American Heart Association (AHA) to create a new program they expect to help over 2 million veterans suffering from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
The goal of the program is to help veterans dealing with ASCVD to get a better handle on their cholesterol and ultimately reduce their risk of cardiovascular issues.
ASCVD occurs when plaque deposits accumulate in the arteries, resulting in a range of conditions such as cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, aortic atherosclerotic disease, and coronary heart disease. These conditions can cause major complications when left unchecked, including amputations, heart attacks, and strokes.
The new program is being launched in 50 VA medical facilities across the nation. Over the course of the next few years, they expect to treat around 30,000 veterans and help them find ways to better manage their cholesterol.
The program itself is being called the Veterans Affairs Lipid Optimization Reimagined Quality Improvement (VALOR-QI). Along with helping veterans, it will also work to help doctors get a better understanding of ASCVD and how to best treat it.
"This program will help identify strategies to decrease cholesterol levels and improve health outcomes. VALOR-QI and the American Heart Association's overarching Integrated ASCVD Management Initiative will ultimately aid in reducing the incidence of heart disease and stroke for millions of people," stated AHA CEO Nancy Brown in a press release.
Cardiovascular disease is currently the leading cause of hospitalizations in the VA health care system. Hopefully by launching this new program the VA and AHA will be able to better help veterans dealing with this complicated issue.