The Bio Brainer

In my last blog post, I mentioned that my project explores the correlation between the rate of statin medication and the rate of people with cardiovascular disease. Before I go head first into the ins and outs of my project, I’m going to go over some of the more frequent terms and facts of the main gist of the project. 

Question : Is the Rate of Statin Usage Increasing at a Faster Rate than the Rate of Heart Disease : A Look at Predictive Modeling Using Linear Regression?

Statin medication is one of the key variables in my project, but it also plays a key factor in many peoples’ lives. Statin medications are used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. It is prescribed to patients who are at high risk or showing signs of potential heart disease that leads to heart attacks and strokes. Statin medication is one of the most popular medications on the market, and for the right reason. With heart disease being the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States according to the CDC, approximately 1 in 5 people die every year from a cardiovascular related disease. Having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and other risk factors can greatly increase a person’s chance of contracting a heart disease. Lastly, the technique I’m going to be using for my project is predictive modeling. Predictive modeling examines current data to model out future outcomes. In addition, linear regression explores the relationship between two variables and models the predictions out. 

After researching the main components that would be the foundation of my project, it was time to come up with my purpose. In “science” terms, the purpose for my project is to apply predictive modeling into a common disease that accounts for a majority of deaths in the U.S.. Using the most recent census data and forecasting out the estimated Statin usage and percentage of people with heart disease, my project analyzes the correlation between the two. 

Beyond the science realm, this project is much more than abstract numbers and scientific theories. Its true purpose lies in the human-to-human perspective, in bringing these figures to the forefront for people to realize their significance. By shedding light on the correlation between statin usage and heart disease, we can spark awareness and hopefully influence decisions that impact public health.