Kare Berg – författare

In recent years, the progress made in the prevention of mortality and morbidity caused by communicable diseases and malnutrition has changed the disease spectrum in both developed and, particularly developing countries. As a result, noncommunicable diseases, includ­ ing genetic disorders, have achieved considerable importance in public health. Furthermore, it is now evident that inherited predisposition is important in a number of common diseases that occur in later life, such as atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and in some rheumatic, oncological, and mental illnesses that appear at an early stage and develop into severe handicaps in predisposed people. Rapid advances in gene mapping concerned with international human genome research make it almost certain that the use of new genetic knowledge will dramatically increase the requirement for genetic approaches in the control of a wide spectrum of diseases, and will provide possibilities for their prevention and treatment in the form of changes in lifestyle, diet modification, periodic check-ups, or the administration of gene therapy. It appears that one of the main problems in delivering genetics services is the difficulty involved in informing the health profession and the community of the real sig­ nificance of genetic problems. There is, therefore, a need for international collaboration in improving genetic health education at all levels and in improving health through genetic approaches.

In recent years, the progress made in the prevention of mortality and morbidity caused by communicable diseases and malnutrition has changed the disease spectrum in both developed and, particularly developing countries. As a result, noncommunicable diseases, includ­ ing genetic disorders, have achieved considerable importance in public health. Furthermore, it is now evident that inherited predisposition is important in a number of common diseases that occur in later life, such as atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and in some rheumatic, oncological, and mental illnesses that appear at an early stage and develop into severe handicaps in predisposed people. Rapid advances in gene mapping concerned with international human genome research make it almost certain that the use of new genetic knowledge will dramatically increase the requirement for genetic approaches in the control of a wide spectrum of diseases, and will provide possibilities for their prevention and treatment in the form of changes in lifestyle, diet modification, periodic check-ups, or the administration of gene therapy. It appears that one of the main problems in delivering genetics services is the difficulty involved in informing the health profession and the community of the real sig­ nificance of genetic problems. There is, therefore, a need for international collaboration in improving genetic health education at all levels and in improving health through genetic approaches.

Cardiovascular diseases are the principal cause of mortality in many developed countries and are increasing in importance in developing countries where communicable diseases are being brought under control. It is estimated that coronary heart disease (CRD) and cerebrovascular diseases are responsible for between 40-50% of all deaths. Righ blood pressure is common in all industrialized societies and contributes importantly to CRD. It is well known that genetic factors play an important role in the etiology and pathogenes es of cardiovascular diseases and contribute to an individual''s susceptibility or resistance to the disease. The application of modern genetic techniques has resulted in the identification of polymorphie markers that are involved in the normal regulation and function of the cardiovascular system. Many of these may contribute to the individual differences in the risk for CRD and hypertension. It is now known that several risk factors or protective factors with respect to cardiovascular diseases are strongly influenced by genes, and it is now possible to identify individual genes contributing to cardiovascular risk. A large bank of genetic knowledge relevant to CRD and hypertension has become available during the past years. As a result, it is now believed that CRD, for example, could be a good model for a feasibility study to determine a way by which preventive measures can be applied.