Cardiovascular disease rates rise in Slovakia and Czech Republic

Cardiovascular diseases continue to place significant pressure on healthcare systems in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. In Slovakia, the National Health Information Center (NCZI) reports that cardiovascular conditions remain the leading cause of death, accounting for approximately 45% of annual fatalities. There has been a notable increase in patients being monitored; the number of people in regular cardiological care has grown 1.7-fold since 2009. While high blood pressure remains the most common diagnosis, chronic heart failure is the fastest-growing condition.

In the Czech Republic, over 642,000 people live with serious heart disease, a figure projected to approach one million by mid-century. To combat this, medical professionals have implemented screening programs through general practitioners to detect heart failure early via hormone testing. While these preventative measures aim to improve long-term outcomes and patient quality of life, they have also contributed to increased workloads in already overburdened cardiology centers and outpatient clinics. Experts suggest that the healthcare system must become more flexible in how it moves patients between primary care and specialized centers based on the intensity of care required.