Corporate Magazine 2012 - Boehringer Ingelheim

our businessesperspectives for better health#3.1PRESCRIPTION MEDICINESCARDIOVASCULARDISEASESBoehringer Ingelheim has for decades offered a widerange of medications for the treatment and preventionof cardiovascular diseases.88 %ischaemicstrokeSTROKE TYPES ANDINCIDENCE12 %haemorrhagicCardiovascular knowledgeBoehringer Ingelheim offers medicationsfor the treatment and prevention of:• Thrombo-embolic diseases with afocus on acute and recurrent stroke• Acute myocardial infarction• Hypertension, with focus on cardioprotectionStroke preventionThe acute phase is not the only stage ofa stroke that has to be managed. Strokeprevention, whether primary or secondary,is extremely important.Risk factors for strokeThe most important modifiable riskfactors for stroke are high blood pressureand atrial fibrillation.Other modifiable risk factors includehigh blood cholesterol levels, diabetes,smoking, heavy alcohol consumptionand drug use, lack of physical activity,as well as obesity and unhealthy diet.Interventions to prevent strokeThe best medical interventions shouldbe primarily aimed at weight reduction,promotion of regular exercise, reducingalcohol consumption or stoppingsmoking. Nonetheless, medicationis the most common method of strokeprevention and offers a scientificallyproven benefit for patients in terms ofstroke preventing.Stroke treatment and preventionA stroke is defined as an acute loss ofneurological function due to an interruptionin the blood supply to a part ofthe brain. Strokes can be ischaemic(reduced blood and oxygen supply toan area of the brain) or haemorrhagic(caused by bleeding).Ischaemic strokes occur when there isa blockage in a vessel by one of the following:a blood clot in a vessel, atheroscleroticplaques or an embolus fromanother vessel.OUR PORTFOLIO IN STROKEPREVENTION AND TREATMENTAcute treatment of stroke:actilyse® (alteplase)Prevention of stroke in patientswith atrial fibrillation:pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate)Secondary prevention of stroke:aggrenox® (dipyridamol/ASA)Prevention of stroke (organprotection), treatment ofhypertension:micardis® (telmisartan)micardisplus® (telmisartan/HCT)Cardiovascular diseases 67