Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular Disease

Each year cardiovascular disease (CVD) causes over 4.3 million deaths in Europe and over 2.0 million deaths in the European Union (EU).CVD causes nearly half of all deaths in Europe (48%) and in the EU (42%).CVD is the main cause of death in women in all countries of Europe and is the main cause of death in men in all countries except France, the Netherlands and Spain.CVD is the main cause of the disease burden (illness and death) in Europe (23% of all the disease burden) and the second main cause of the disease burden in those EU countries with very low child and adult mortality (17%).Death rates from CHD are generally higher in Central and Eastern Europe than in Northern, Southern and Western Europe.Death rates from stroke are higher in Central and Eastern Europe than in Northern, Southern and Western Europe.CVD mortality, incidence, and case fatality are falling in most Northern, Southern and Western European Countries, but either not falling as fast or rising in Central and Eastern European countries.Each year smoking kills over 1.2 million people in Europe (450,000 from CVD) and about 650,000 people in the EU (185,000 from CVD).