Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 67
CHAPTER 127
Relative to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
July 20, 2023.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 67, Waldron.
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
This measure would express the Legislature’s support for the creation of policies to decrease the rising number of deaths of Americans as a result of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The measure would declare the importance of enhanced public awareness of comprehensive cardiovascular screening programs to allow for earlier identification of patients at risk of cardiovascular events. The measure would also
declare the importance of collaboration on statewide cardiovascular planning to accelerate quality improvements in care rendered to these patients.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee:
NO WHEREAS, Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; and
WHEREAS, In the United States, approximately 21,000,000 patients have been diagnosed with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and are at risk of a cardiovascular event according to the United States Census Bureau; and
WHEREAS, The Mayo Clinic states that ASCVD is linked to the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries, and that the risk of associated events can be modified by lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C); and
WHEREAS, In 2016, nearly 70,000,000 adults in the United States had elevated LDL-C levels; and
WHEREAS, Currently 43,100,000 people in the United States are treated with lipid-lowering therapies to manage cardiovascular risk; and
WHEREAS, Only 20 percent of people with ASCVD who are taking statins, one of the leading lipid-lowering therapies, actually achieve healthy levels of LDL-C; and
WHEREAS, The total direct and indirect cost of ASCVD in the U.S. was $555 billion in 2016, and is projected to climb to $1.1 trillion by 2035 according to the American Heart Association; and
WHEREAS, In California, 2,008,100 adults have been told by a health professional that they had angina, a stroke, a heart attack, or coronary heart disease, which are some of the manifestations of ASCVD; and
WHEREAS, In California in 2019, 39,767 people had ASCVD as an underlying cause of death; and
WHEREAS, In California in 2019, 960,900 adults reported experiencing a heart attack in their lifetime and 801,800 adults reported experiencing a stroke in their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, California spends an estimated $11.74 billion on direct medical expenses for ASCVD care each year; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby declares the importance of enhanced public awareness of comprehensive cardiovascular screening programs to allow for earlier identification of patients at risk of cardiovascular events; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature further declares the importance of collaboration on statewide cardiovascular planning to accelerate quality improvements in the care rendered to these patients such that screening, treatment, monitoring, and improved health outcomes are achieved; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature supports the creation of policies to decrease the rising number of deaths of Americans as a result of ASCVD; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.