Cardiovascular diseases

Every year, an estimated 17 million people globally die of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), particularly heart attacks and strokes. CVDs occur almost equally in men and women. Although heart attacks and strokes are major killers in all parts of the world, 80% of premature deaths from these causes could be avoided by controlling the main risk factors: tobacco, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity.

As the major noncommunicable diseases affecting the European Region share common modifiable risk factors, prevention of any one of these diseases must be integrated into population approaches to prevent NCDs as a group. WHO has adopted an integrated and comprehensive approach to combat noncommunicable diseases that includes surveillance, supporting countries in the development of policies and strategies for integrated prevention, with special emphasis on low- and middle-income countries.

Health services are often oriented towards short-term treatment of disease rather than prevention and care for chronic conditions. In the case of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and other noncommunicable diseases, this approach misses important opportunities to improve public health in the long term. In collaboration with partners and Member States, WHO has therefore developed comprehensive strategies and guidelines to tackle the epidemic of noncommunicable diseases. Effective strategies need to simultaneously:

• focus on population-level health promotion and disease prevention
• target groups and individuals at high risk
• maximize population coverage with effective treatment and care
• tackle the wider determinants of health.