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Huge Deaths in EU from Heart Disease - Harkin

5,000 people in the European Union die each day from problems associated with cardiovascular  disease (CVD).

This was stated by independent MEP Marian Harkin in the context of World Heart Day (Saturday September 29th, 2012) in which European Parliament members have joined forces to inform citizens and policy makers that diseases of the heart and circulatory system remain the main causes of death in the EU.

She pointed out that each year CVD causes over 1.8 million deaths in the EU representing 40% of all deaths in the Union.  Over a third of deaths from CVD in the EU are from Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and over a quarter from strokes.  CVD remains the main cause of death for women in all 27 countries and for men in 23 EU countries.

In money terms the overall cost of CVD in the EU is estimated at €196 billion per year with 54% due to health care costs, 24% to productivity losses and 22% to informal care of people with CVD, Marian Harkin said.  However despite the proven harm caused by cigarette smoking almost one third of the EU population persists in the habit while 39% of adults never participate in exercise activities, Marian Harkin MEP said.