Review of cardiovascular disease prevention strategies in Chile: Acute myocardial infarction and stroke

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases, primarily acute myocardial infarction and stroke, are the leading cause of death worldwide, generating a significant health, social, and economic burden. Objective: To review the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies for acute myocardial infarction and stroke implemented in Chile and to analyze their concordance with the main international cardiovascular prevention guidelines. Methods: A narrative review was conducted, which included grey literature, primary studies, reviews, clinical guidelines and regulatory documents—both national and international—as well as indexed scientific literature. Results: Chile has implemented integrated primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies for acute myocardial infarction and stroke, mainly within the framework of the Explicit Health Guarantees system, showing overall concordance with the main international cardiovascular prevention guidelines. Discussion: Although national strategies are generally consistent with international recommendations, gaps persist between clinical recommendations and their implementation. These gaps affect risk factor control in primary prevention, timely access to diagnosis and treatment in secondary prevention, and follow-up, rehabilitation, and management of sequelae in tertiary prevention, ultimately impacting long-term outcomes in acute myocardial infarction and stroke. Conclusions: Chile has a solid regulatory framework for cardiovascular prevention that is consistent with the main international guidelines; however, implementation gaps remain. Strengthening equity, continuity of care, and the updating of clinical guidelines is necessary.