Globally, deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) have jumped from 12.1 million in 1990 to 20.5 million in 20219. CVD was the leading cause of death worldwide in 2021, with 4 in 5 CVD deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries9.
In Europe, CVD (principally coronary heart disease and stroke) caused more than 3.8 million deaths per year, accounting for just under 1.76 million deaths in men and more than 2 million deaths in women. This corresponded to 39% of all deaths in men and 46% of all deaths in women10,11.
Overall, CVD is estimated to cost the EU economy €210 billion every year. Of the total cost of CVD in the EU, around 53% are healthcare costs, 26% are productivity losses, and 21% are costs associated with informal care of people with CVD11.
