European Union cardiovascular diseases cause 1.6 million annual deaths

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in the European Union, accounting for approximately 1.6 to 1.7 million deaths annually. According to Eurostat, these conditions—including ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and cerebrovascular diseases—represented 32.5% of all deaths in the EU in 2023.

Mortality rates vary significantly across European regions. In 25 regions, cardiovascular diseases were responsible for at least half of all deaths, with the highest rates recorded in Bulgaria, followed by regions in Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, and Slovakia. Conversely, in some French regions, these diseases accounted for less than 20% of total deaths.

In response, the European Commission is launching a new strategy for the prevention and early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. The initiative emphasizes that up to 80% of these cases could be prevented by managing risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and obesity. The Commission is urging member states to implement national screening programs and leverage new technologies, including artificial intelligence and data analysis, to improve risk assessment and preventative care.