Drugs used alongside heart conditions and transplants prolong life.
NHS data shows the life expectancy of heart transplant patients:
Life expectancy (years)
Proportion of patients (%)
> 1
80–90
> 5
70–75
> 10
50
Life expectancy (years)
> 1
Proportion of patients (%)
80–90
Life expectancy (years)
> 5
Proportion of patients (%)
70–75
Life expectancy (years)
> 10
Proportion of patients (%)
50
Evaluating treatment methods
Treatment
Advantages
Disadvantages
Drugs - statins
Reduce the risk of heart attack. Studies have shown a decrease in 'bad cholesterol' and an increase in 'good cholesterol'. Used to reduce high cholesterol levels that have genetic causes. May have beneficial effects on other conditions.
Not suitable for people with liver disease. Some side effects. Must be taken for life. Should not be taken if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Heart transplant
Improve quality of life.
Few donor hearts are available. Recovery time is long. There is a risk of rejection by the body's immune system.
Stents
Widen coronary arteries that have not responded to drug treatment. The recovery time is short following insertion of the stent.
In a minority of cases, further treatment is required.
Lifestyle changes
These include stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake, eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. These changes will improve the health of all people; those with and without cardiovascular disease.
These changes alone may not be enough to prevent further complications.
Treatment
Drugs - statins
Advantages
Reduce the risk of heart attack. Studies have shown a decrease in 'bad cholesterol' and an increase in 'good cholesterol'. Used to reduce high cholesterol levels that have genetic causes. May have beneficial effects on other conditions.
Disadvantages
Not suitable for people with liver disease. Some side effects. Must be taken for life. Should not be taken if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Treatment
Heart transplant
Advantages
Improve quality of life.
Disadvantages
Few donor hearts are available. Recovery time is long. There is a risk of rejection by the body's immune system.
Treatment
Stents
Advantages
Widen coronary arteries that have not responded to drug treatment. The recovery time is short following insertion of the stent.
Disadvantages
In a minority of cases, further treatment is required.
Treatment
Lifestyle changes
Advantages
These include stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake, eating a balanced diet and regular exercise. These changes will improve the health of all people; those with and without cardiovascular disease.
Disadvantages
These changes alone may not be enough to prevent further complications.