Reducing CVD risk and treatmentsEdexcel International A Level Biology: Subtopic test

1. 1
   A 54-year-old man is 1.75 m tall and has a body mass of 98 kg. His waist measures 112 cm and his hips measure 100 cm. He smokes and takes little exercise.

   (a)

   What is his body mass index (BMI)?

   [1 mark]

   • A3.2 kg m⁻²
   • B22.4 kg m⁻²
   • C32.0 kg m⁻²
   • D56.0 kg m⁻²

   (b)

   What is his waist-to-hip ratio and what does it indicate?

   [1 mark]

   • A0.89, a low risk of CHD
   • B1.12, a high ratio showing abdominal fat and a raised risk of CHD
   • C1.12, a low risk of CHD
   • D0.89, a raised risk of CHD

   (c)

   Explain why the waist-to-hip ratio may be a better indicator of the risk of CHD than BMI for some people.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 1: 4 marks

2. 2
   Doctors prescribe different drugs to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD): antihypertensives for raised blood pressure, statins for high LDL cholesterol, and anticoagulants or platelet inhibitors for patients who are at risk of blood clots.

   (a)

   Which type of drug reduces blood cholesterol by inhibiting its synthesis in the liver?

   [1 mark]

   • AAnticoagulant
   • BBeta blocker
   • CPlatelet inhibitor
   • DStatin

   (b)

   How does aspirin, a platelet inhibitor, reduce the risk of a thrombosis?

   [1 mark]

   • AIt makes platelets less likely to stick together
   • BIt converts thrombin into prothrombin
   • CIt dissolves the fibrin in a clot
   • DIt lowers the concentration of LDL in the blood

   (c)

   Describe one benefit and one risk of a patient taking an anticoagulant drug such as warfarin.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 2: 4 marks

3. 3
   A 60-year-old woman has a blood pressure of 165/100 mmHg and a blood LDL cholesterol concentration of 4.5 mmol dm⁻³. Her doctor prescribes a beta blocker and a statin, and advises her to change her lifestyle. She asks why she needs both drugs.

   (a)

   Explain how a beta blocker and a statin each reduce the risk of CHD.

   [3 marks]

   (b)

   Evaluate the benefits and risks to the woman of taking these two drugs.

   [4 marks]

   Total for question 3: 7 marks

4. 4
   A health clinic runs a programme for patients at high risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The patients attend sessions on diet, exercise and stopping smoking, and some are also prescribed drugs.

   (a)

   Explain how changes to diet, exercise and smoking can reduce the risk of CHD.

   [6 marks]

   (b)

   Describe how antihypertensives, statins, anticoagulants and platelet inhibitors reduce the risk of CVD, and evaluate the risks of taking them.

   [6 marks]

   Total for question 4: 12 marks

End of questions