Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death and disability across Europe, according to a new report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The conditions, which include heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, are responsible for around 1.7 million deaths annually and affect 62 million people in the European Union, representing one‑third of all fatalities each year.
The report highlights that while life expectancy in Europe has increased significantly over the past 50 years thanks to advances in prevention and treatment, CVD continues to dominate mortality statistics. Men are disproportionately affected, with death rates from circulatory diseases 26-60 per cent higher than in women in most EU countries.
Risk factors for CVD are classified as non-modifiable, such as age, sex, family history, and ethnicity, and modifiable, including clinical, metabolic, lifestyle, behavioural, and environmental influences. The OECD notes that globally, 83 per cent of CVD deaths are linked to modifiable risks, while in the EU this figure is slightly lower at 76 per cent. Metabolic factors such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and high blood sugar account for the majority of deaths, representing 68 per cent in the EU. Behavioural risks including smoking, unhealthy diets, and alcohol use are the second largest contributor, causing 37 per cent of CVD deaths in the region.
Beyond mortality, the report stresses the significant impact of CVD on quality of life. People with these conditions often face physical limitations due to fatigue and shortness of breath, alongside mental health challenges such as anxiety and fear of recurrent cardiac events. Long-term lifestyle adjustments and ongoing medication regimens further complicate daily life.
The burden of CVD varies across Europe. Between 2012 and 2022, mortality from circulatory diseases fell in all EU member states, averaging a 20 per cent decline for men and 22 per cent for women. Countries including France, Denmark, and Spain reported mortality rates below 220 deaths per 100,000 population in 2022, while Bulgaria, Romania, and Latvia exceeded 800 per 100,000. Central and Eastern European countries show higher prevalence of modifiable risk factors such as obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity. For instance, obesity rates exceed 20 per cent in Lithuania, Finland, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, and Malta, while daily smoking is highest in Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, and France.
The report also highlights the economic cost of CVD, estimated at €282 billion annually in the EU, or around 2 per cent of the region’s GDP. This represents a sharp rise from €169 billion in 2003 and reflects not only healthcare spending but also productivity losses and informal care needs.
In response, the European Commission is preparing the “Safe Hearts Plan,” the first EU-wide strategy to improve cardiovascular health. The plan aims to provide a coordinated policy framework for member states to tackle the rising prevalence of CVD, driven in part by an ageing population, and to reduce its health and economic impact across Europe.
