CVD remains the European Union’s biggest health challenge. It is responsible for nearly one‑third of deaths and costs €282 billion each year.
Heart failure – a leading cause of avoidable hospitalisations – is a significant contributor to this burden. It is often overlooked because the risk factors and early warning signs go undetected until the damage is advanced. But well‑designed cardiovascular health checks can change this.
Our new call to action sets out how targeted, evidence‑based cardiovascular health checks can strengthen early detection and prevention, supporting the implementation of the EU Safe Hearts Plan. Drawing on evidence and European examples, the report highlights how health checks must be carefully designed to deliver meaningful impact in practice.
Getting health checks right will shift health systems away from late‑stage crisis management towards more sustainable, prevention‑led care. If done well, they will help reverse the long‑standing failure to predict, prevent and protect people from cardiovascular disease, and reduce avoidable hospital admissions, disability and premature death.
