2023 House Resolution 51

Whereas, Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and includes numerous diseases and disorders such as Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM); and

Whereas, In the United States, approximately 21 million patients have been diagnosed with ASCVD and an estimated 700,000 to 1,650,000 people have HCM, yet 85% of them may remain undiagnosed; and

Whereas, The Mayo Clinic states that ASCVD is linked to the build-up of cholesterol in the arteries and the risk of associated events can be modified by lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C); and

Whereas, HCM is a chronic cardiovascular disease involving thickening of the heart muscle and can potentially lead to debilitating symptoms and serious complications including heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, and in rare cases, sudden cardiac death; and

Whereas, HCM is the most common inheritable heart disease and can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity with a reported prevalence ranging from 1 in 200 to 1 in 500 in the general population; and

Whereas, Approximately 43.1 million people in the United States are currently treated with lipid-lowering therapies to manage cardiovascular risk. Only 20% of people with ASCVD who are taking statins, one of the leading lipid-lowering therapies, actually achieve healthy levels of LDL-C; and

Whereas, HCM shares symptoms with other common cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, palpitations, and fainting, making it difficult to distinguish HCM from these other diseases; and

Whereas, A healthcare provider must conduct a thorough screening with cardiac health questions to help identify a risk of cardiac disorders both genetic and congenital and may include an echocardiogram, a cardiac MRI, or genetic testing to confirm a family history of cardiovascular disease, and must examine the heart to diagnose HCM; and

Whereas, The total direct and indirect cost of ASCVD in the US 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 Michigan, 730,900 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 or HCM; and

Whereas, In Michigan, 15,472 people had ASCVD as an underlying cause of death. With HCM, the all-cause mortality risk is 3-4x higher in patients than that of the general population; and

Whereas, In Michigan, 348,600 adults reported experiencing a heart attack in their lifetime and 281,200 adults reported experiencing a stroke in their lifetime; and

Whereas, Following a diagnosis of any cardiovascular disease, it is important for patients to work with their healthcare provider to learn more about their disease and understand different management options, including prescription medicines and surgical treatment options that may help; and

Whereas, The fourth Wednesday in February is an appropriate day to observe Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease & Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Awareness Day; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare March 2, 2023, as Cardiovascular Disease Awareness Day in the state of Michigan. We urge state agencies to expand comprehensive cardiovascular screening programs to allow for earlier identification of patients at risk of cardiovascular events; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage state agencies to explore ways to collaborate with federal and national agencies and organizations to establish or expand comprehensive cardiovascular screening programs and to update the state’s cardiovascular plan to accelerate quality improvements in the care rendered to these patients such that screening, treatment, monitoring, and improved health outcomes are achieved. We support the creation of policies to decrease the rising number of deaths of Americans as a result of ASCVD. We acknowledge the critical importance of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy awareness, support raising awareness of the consequences of undiagnosed and untreated HCM, and encourage appropriate care for HCM as a serious public health issue.