Supplementary MaterialsAdditional file 1: Overview of the countries included in the study. the international guidelines were selected by the majority of the 34 countries studied with the CUDC-907 supplier exception of adenosine diphosphate receptor inhibitors which appeared on less than half of the NEMLs studied (41% of countries). The total number of essential medicines CUDC-907 supplier for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases (median 24 (range 16C50)) differed significantly across income levels (median range: 19.5C25, em p CUDC-907 supplier /em ?=?0.014) and across regions (median range: 20C32, em p /em ?=?0.049). When recommendations of the international guidelines were considered, over 75% of the NEMLs contained essential medicines for the majority of CVDs. Conclusion The main medicine classes for the management of CVDs were displayed on NEMLs. As a result, in most of CVDs, evidence-based guideline-recommended treatment can be done so far as selection of important medications is concerned. Selection shall therefore not end up being the limiting part of usage of medications for cardiovascular illnesses. Electronic supplementary materials The online edition of this article (10.1186/s12872-018-0858-5) contains supplementary material, which is CUDC-907 supplier available to authorized users. strong class=”kwd-title” Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases, Low and middle income countries, Essential medicines lists, Access to medicines Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the most common cause of death worldwide with more than 17 million deaths annually [1]. Global estimates show that CVDs such as ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease will still be the primary cause of death by 2030 and will be associated with productivity loss and catastrophic healthcare costs [2, 3]. Ongoing changes in CUDC-907 supplier low and middle income countries (LMICs), accelerated by urbanization and socio-economic development, have increased the exposure to health related risks such as tobacco smoking, unhealthy diet and reduced physical activity [4]. Together with ageing of the population these changes have led to an increase in the incidence of non-communicable diseases including CVDs in these countries [1, 4]. Appropriate preventive measures should be taken to slow down this detrimental developments and treatment of these diseases should be prioritized. This notion has been accentuated in various international meetings and governments have made a variety of commitments in this direction [5, 6]. Evidence indicates that more than 80% of global cardiovascular deaths occur in LMICs which is (partly) due to the lack of access to healthcare including skilled human resources, equipped facilities and medicines [7, 8]. Medicines are more available for treatment of infectious disease as opposed to CVDs or other non-communicable diseases [9]. In order to change this inequality, essential medicines could be instrumental. The WHO has compiled and revises a list of medicines which is considered essential to meet global health needs, the so-called WHO essential medicines list. It is recommended by the WHO that countries make use of this list as a guide to prepare their own national essential medicines lists (NEMLs). A NEML is supposed to respond to the health care priorities of each individual country as determined by the national burden of disease and national healthcare priorities. It really is proven that important medications are more obtainable than other medications across LMICs, therefore NEMLs play certainly a job in way to obtain medications (at least) in the general public sector. A NEML frequently takes its basis for region level medications medical center and lists formularies [10, 11]. Therefore, an initial part of guaranteeing equitable usage of medications in LMICs, is certainly implementing a NEML using a logical and balanced strategy in collection of important medications. This research will assess collection of important medications for the avoidance and treatment of an array of CVDs on MINOR NEMLs of LMICs. Potential determinants because of this selection,.