New research points to huge inequalities in both national prevention policies and levels of cardiovascular mortality seen across the EU.
The research was presented as part of the EuroHeart project at a major conference recently held in Brussels (www.euroheart2009.eu). While heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Europe, mortality rates are falling in most (but not all) countries. The highest rates of mortality from coronary heart disease in men under 65 were found in Hungary (105 per 100,000 population), while the UK was the 6th highest out of 16 countries, with 44 per 100,000 population. Mortality rates for women under 65 were also highest in Hungary (28 per 100,000 population), while the UK came 4th at 11 per 100,000 population. In nine of the 16 EuroHeart countries, the trends in coronary heart disease death rates in women show that they have declined less than in men. The research also found striking inequalities among the 16 countries in terms of coronary heart disease prevention policies and legislation. Susanne Logstrup, director of the European Heart Network, a joint co-ordinator with the European Society of Cardiology of the EuroHeart project, commented: “What the findings show is that most countries have taken legislative action and have policy measures in place for public health, coronary heart disease, tobacco, food and physical activity. “We cannot conclude that there is a clear association between prevention policies and cardiovascular mortality in all countries, but in some countries – such as Greece – the association is striking.” The association is most evident in relation to the effect of smoking bans on acute coronary events as the research shows – in February last year, the French authorities announced a 15% decrease in emergency admissions for heart attack just one year after the public ban on smoking came into effect. The number of people admitted to hospital for heart attacks also fell by 17% in the year after Scotland’s smoking ban took effect in March 2006.
