Brussels, 03/12/2024 — The European Union (EU) has adopted Council Conclusions that will set a milestone for the continent’s cardiovascular health. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) – the leading cause of death in the EU and globally – affects more than 60 million Europeans, accounts for over 1.7 million deaths annually on the continent, and costs its economy an estimated €282 billion each year.
The European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) welcomes the Council Conclusions which reflect key objectives of the EACH Plan that includes strengthening primary and secondary prevention, early detection and screening, and optimising management and rehabilitative care of CVD. The Council’s recommended actions invite Member States to expand screening programmes for cardiovascular risk factors, address socioeconomic and environmental determinants of health, and increase access to therapy tailored to the needs of patients and families.
The Council Conclusions acknowledge the scale of the challenge, and EACH is pleased to see the EU stepping up with plans and resources that match this immense health and economic burden. Particularly encouraging, is the expressed commitment of the newly appointed Health Commissioner, Olivér Várhelyi, to transform these Council Conclusions into a comprehensive European cardiovascular health plan.
“Early detection and diagnosis, timely intervention and eventually better management of patients with cardiovascular disease and a strong focus on prevention and rehabilitation will result in a significant reduction of premature deaths in Europe” said Prof. Thomas F. Lüscher, President of the European Society of Cardiology, which is currently acting as Secretariat of EACH. “This is important for the individuals and their families and friends. At the same time, it is important for society at large. The EU Cardiovascular Health plan will play an essential part in improving lives and health outcomes for citizens allowing them to actively take part in, and contribute to, society.”
The Council Conclusions also call on the European Commission to ensure adequate funding and to map cardiovascular health actions in an integrated way, through primary, secondary and tertiary care. Proposed steps include promoting evidence-based prevention measures, advancing innovative treatments, and leveraging digital health tools for better data integration and research. These actions aim to reduce risk factors common to both cardiovascular diseases and cancer, such as poor nutrition, tobacco use, and physical inactivity.
EACH welcomes the inclusion of public health campaigns to improve health literacy and expand access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in community spaces. These efforts, alongside commitments to environmental health measures such as reducing air and noise pollution, reflect a comprehensive strategy to tackle the root causes of cardiovascular diseases.
