Cardiovascular diseases

EU research on cardiovascular diseases

Diseases of the heart and circulatory system (cardiovascular diseases) encompass a number of specific illnesses such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke, arterial and pulmonary hypertension, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies, valvular heart disease, etc.

Despite important medical advances over the last few decades, cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of death globally and the number one cause of death in the EU.

Each year, there are more than 6 million of new cases and over 1.8 million cardiovascular disease related deaths in the EU. All these costs the EU economy over €210 billion a year (see the European Heart Network statistics).

EU funding has focused on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

The objectives of EU-funded research on cardiovascular diseases are to

provide evidence-based solutions for clinical challenges and develop preventive approaches
address common risk factors and identify vulnerable populations
improve diagnosis, early detection and stratified therapies
provide proof-of-concept for the establishment of integrated care approaches