According to a report issued on Valentine’s day by the European Heart Network (EHN), each year cardiovascular disease (CVD) causes 3.9 million deaths in Europe and over 1.8 million deaths in the European Union (EU). CVD now costs the EU economy €210 billion a year.

Although the report confirms that the fall in death rates from heart disease and stroke over recent decades is a sustainable trend,  data also indicate that CVD remain a leading cause of death in Europe and that considerable inequalities in the burden of these diseases persist across the continent.

The figures from the report, as well as country specific profiles will be presented and discussed at the next MEP Heart Group meeting, which took place on Tuesday 28 February 2017 in the European Parliament.

AGENDA

14.00 – 14.10
CO-CHAIR’S OPENING REMARKS:  Heart Health in Europe – Why We Are All Concerned
Ms Mairead McGuinness MEP, Co-Chair MEP Heart Group

14.10 – 14.30
PRESENTATION: The burden of cardiovascular disease – latest facts & figures
Dr Nick Townsend, Oxford University

14.30 – 14.50
PRESENTATION: The cost of cardiovascular disease
Dr José Leal, Oxford University

14.50 – 15.10
PRESENTATION: “Prevention in your country” – a novel web-based source of national information
Prof Joep Perk, European Society of Cardiology

15.10 – 15.30
DISCUSSION & CO-CHAIR’S CONCLUDING REMARKS:  Fighting CVD – the Way Forward
Ms Karin Kadenbach MEP, Co-Chair MEP Heart Group

The report from the meeting and the links to the presentations can be found below.