Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the most common cause of death across Europe but while CVD mortality rates are generally decreasing, the decline is much less in middle-income than in high-income countries, according to new data from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Atlas of Cardiology, published in the European Heart Journal. The fourth edition of ESC Atlas statistics again demonstrate that CVD is the most common cause of death in the 55 ESC member countries studied. There are over 3 million deaths due to CVD per year - the equivalent of 8,500 deaths per day - which represents 37.
4% of all deaths annually. Of note, age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) were at least 2.5-times higher in middle-income compared with high-income countries.
Between 1990 and 2021, median CVD ASMRs decreased by more than 50% in all high-income countries, but in middle-income countries, the decrease was less than 12%. According to the latest data from ESC member countries: CVD mortality is higher in middle-income countries (46% of all deaths in males; 53% of all deaths in females) than in high-income countries (30% of all deaths in males; 34% of all deaths in females). The estimated age-standardised potential years of life lost was more than 3-times higher in middle-income compared with high-income countries.
The new statistics on deaths due to CVD illustrate the scale of the problem and underscore the urgent need for effective strategies in prevention and management. The inequalities.