Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of death in the European Union killing over 2 million people per year.
"European Cardiovascular Disease Statistics 2008" includes data on: death and illness; treatment; the prevalence of behavioural risk factors for CVD [1]; and the prevalence of medical conditions associated with CVD [2].
Mortality rates from CVD across the EU vary significantly and are not gender specific. Overall figures indicate that more women die from CVD than men – more specifically, CVD is believed to be responsible for 45% of female deaths and 38% of all deaths in men.
Coronary heart diseases (CHD) by itself remains the single most common cause of death in the EU. Over the past 30 years death rates from CHD have been falling rapidly in most Northern and Western European countries, but rising rapidly in some Central and Eastern European countries.
The cost of CVD to the EU economy is estimated at €192 billion per year. This staggering figure is all the more concerning when compared to the 2008 EU budget of €129.1 billion. Of the total cost of CVD in the EU, 57% is due to direct health care cost, 21% to productivity losses and 22% to the informal care of people with CVD.
All documents are available on the EHN website.
EPHA related articles
Spotlight on the European Heart Network (EHN)
Inaugural meeting of the MEP Heart Group on 2 October 2007
Stress and Cardiovascular Disease - New Paper by the European Heart Network
