As discussions around the Council of the EU’s conclusions on cardiovascular health continue, the EU Structural Heart Disease (SHD) Coalition urges decisive action to prioritize cardiovascular health across Europe. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death in the EU, surpassing even cancer, and they deserve the same structured and coordinated response that the EU has developed for cancer care.
A critical subset of cardiovascular disease is Structural Heart Disease (SHD), which affects millions of Europeans, particularly the elderly. SHD can be easily detected through simple heart checks, yet, without early diagnosis, it can lead to severe complications, higher mortality, and increased healthcare costs. The SHD Coalition stresses the need for systematic screening to catch these diseases early, especially given the rapid ageing of Europe’s population and the projected rise in heart disease cases.
An Unprecedented Opportunity for Concrete Action
The Council’s ongoing negotiations are an opportunity to establish a unified, EU-wide Cardiovascular Health Plan. Such a plan could mirror the success of the EU Cancer Plan by focusing on early detection, systematic heart checks, and addressing geographical, socioeconomic, and gender inequalities in access to care.
The Coalition calls on Member States to use this moment to commit to:
- Establishing an EU Cardiovascular Health Plan, with clear objectives and actions to prevent, detect, and manage CVDs.
- Ensuring access to secondary prevention, including systematic heart checks for all citizens, especially for conditions like SHD.
- Tackling inequalities in diagnosis and treatment across regions, socioeconomic groups, and genders, ensuring fair access to care for all.
- Promoting research and innovation to support advancements in cardiovascular health and the development of new technologies.
- Integrating cardiovascular health into broader Union policies related to public health, employment, innovation, and social policy.
Time to Act
With cardiovascular diseases set to affect 20 million people by 2040, Europe must take ambitious steps now. The SHD Coalition calls on the Council of the EU to seize this unique opportunity and ensure that cardiovascular health becomes a central priority across Europe. This is a moment we cannot afford to waste!
Find our Position Paper here: link