Jimmy Carter

“ Since 1948, this Nation has been engaged in a concerted effort to acquire new knowledge about the cardiovascular system and the diseases that afflict it; to disseminate that knowledge to the research and medical communities and to the general public; and to mobilize resources, facilities, and research and medical manpower toward the goal of reducing illness, disability, and premature death from cardiovascular disorders. ”

“ Diseases of the heart and blood vessels remain our Nation's leading cause of death and disability and one of our most serious health problems. Collectively, cardiovascular diseases affect more than 40 million Americans, visiting partial or complete disability on several millions of them and causing nearly 980,000 deaths each year. ”

“ Widespread application of research and clinical advances stemming from this effort is having substantial and salutary effects on cardiovascular disease mortality rates, which have declined by 34 percent since 1950. These mortality-rate decreases extend across the whole spectrum of cardiovascular diseases and, in most categories, have accelerated during recent years. ”