Strengthening European Health: JACARDI at the JARED Consortium Day

The Joint Action on REspiratory Diseases (JARED) is a major European initiative dedicated to reducing the burden of chronic respiratory diseases through improved prevention, early detection, and integrated care models across the EU. Since chronic conditions like respiratory diseases, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues often share common risk factors, building strategic synergies between Joint Actions is essential to create a unified, high-impact approach to public health and societal prosperity.

In this context, JACARDI contributes to these goals by strengthening prevention and management strategies for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes across Europe within a single framework. By promoting health promotion, reinforcing screening, integrated care pathways and self-management, together with labour participation and improved data governance, JACARDI reinforces a cross-disease, system-based approach that complements JARED’s goals.

Addressing shared risk factors — such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, environmental exposures, and social determinants of health — allows both Joint Actions to amplify their impact beyond single disease areas and move toward a more cohesive NCD strategy at EU level.

Building synergies across European public health initiatives

The event program featured a high-level opening with remarks from the WHO and the European Respiratory Society (ERS), followed by a deep dive into JARED’s first-year achievements in indoor air quality, patient pathways, and reaching vulnerable populations. A dedicated session on Strategic Synergies brought together coordinators from various European projects to discuss how to align our efforts for maximum impact.

During this session, Benedetta Armocida, Coordinator of JACARDI presented on building synergies for impact between JACARDI, JARED, and JA PreventNCD, focusing on how coordinated intervention strategies can drive broader societal prosperity. Together, we are ensuring that European health interventions are not just individual projects, but a cohesive movement toward a healthier future.

Three JACARDI pilots showcased at the 45th French Hypertension Days

At the 45th French Hypertension Days in Marseille in December 2025, the French Public Health Agency (Santé publique France) hosted a special session to showcase three innovative JACARDI pilot projects addressing hypertension. 

This annual congress, organized by the French Society of Hypertension, brings together more than 500 healthcare professionals from French-speaking countries to share advances in hypertension management.

Session Highlights 

The session opened with Dr. Clémence Grave, who presented key French epidemiological insights:

• Hypertension affects over 17 million French adults
• It accounts for nearly 9% of all deaths, yet 1 in 2 adults with hypertension remain unaware of their condition.

To bridge the gap between these alarming statistics and clinical practice, Dr. Grégory Lailler introduced the three main interventions within JACARDI, implemented in the framework of hypertension prevention and health promotion:

• Tension’Elles: A targeted intervention in maternity clinics to raise awareness among women who experienced hypertensive disorders during pregnancy about their future cardiovascular risk, while supporting healthier lifestyle changes. This intervention pilot introduces an innovative care pathway that improves follow-up for women and enhances coordination between hospitals and community care. By identifying risks early, it ensures a seamless transition for women, connecting them with community-health professionals to manage their long-term cardiovascular health and boost the health literacy in these populations.
  
• TAC (Tension Artérielle – les Chiffres): A public communication campaign to increase awareness of blood pressure numbers and hypertension thresholds, piloted in four high-prevalence French areas.
  
• TA Tension: A pharmacy-based screening program to identify undiagnosed or uncontrolled hypertension, with loaned self-measurement devices to confirm diagnoses. Leveraging the strategic role of pharmacists as accessible, frontline healthcare providers, this program decentralizes screening. It transforms local pharmacies into key diagnostic hubs, providing patients with low-threshold access to professional medical devices and expert guidance right in their neighborhoods.

Dr. Olivier Obrecht concluded by outlining the National Health Insurance’s nationwide strategies to combat hypertension:

• free self-measurement devices for all newly practicing general practitioners, ensuring better access to diagnostic tools;
• a nationwide awareness campaign to improve hypertension screening rates;
• a newsletter reaching nearly 30 million insured individuals, promoting prevention and early detection;
• an action plan against therapeutic inertia, assessing the effectiveness of antihypertensive treatments after prescription to optimize patient care.

Impact and Outcomes 

The session generated strong interest from all healthcare professionals, especially regarding the implementation of new strategies at a national level to tackle the burden of hypertension. It fostered the following:

• Collaboration: a platform for professionals to exchange ideas and refine interventions with national and local stakeholders.
• Network expansion: opportunities to engage with new partners in the JACARDI project and align efforts across France.

The session offered a pivotal moment to unify stakeholders and strengthen collective action against hypertension.

Contributors:

In addition to the main author listed above, this article was prepared with contributions from Santé publique France:

Grégory Lailler, Clémence Grave, Diane Gozlan, Mounia El Yamani, Salima Afiri, Morgane Merat, Andrea Guajardo Villar

From pilots to policy: highlights from the Irish JACARDI Heart Health Symposium

The Irish JACARDI Heart Health Symposium took place on 13 February at University College Dublin, bringing together clinicians, researchers, policymakers and programme leads from across Europe. The day showcased the strength of collaboration under JACARDI and the practical progress being made in cardiovascular and diabetes prevention.

The symposium opened with a welcome from Ireland’s Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, setting the tone of innovation and equity in cardiovascular and diabetes prevention. Dr Benedetta Armocida, Coordinator of JACARDI, provided an overview of JACARDI’s objectives, highlighting the Joint Action’s commitment to shared learning and scalable implementation across Member States.

The spotlight then turned to the pilots – the core of JACARDI. Six pilots from Ireland, Finland, Belgium, Hungary and Ukraine presented their work, with a particular focus on cardiovascular screening and patient self-management.

Pilot presentations: progress across Europe

• Ireland:
  • STOP‑CVD (HSE): Katie Ellwood and Pooja Salgar outlined progress using natriuretic peptide screening to support risk stratification in primary care.
  • Healthy Heart Clubs (Croí Heart & Stroke Charity): Lisa Hynes highlighted the importance of structured rehabilitation and long‑term self‑management after cardiac events.
• Finland: Mia Färm (Finnish Diabetes Association) presented the Finnish Risk Calculator, supporting early identification and timely lifestyle intervention.
• Belgium: William Leysen (Diabetes Liga) shared preliminary results from the Halt2Diabetes studies, demonstrating the value of coordinated community‑level screening.
• Hungary: Gréta Máto (OKFŐ) discussed the role of advanced nurse practitioners in strengthening cardiovascular and diabetes screening in primary care.
• Ukraine: Nataliia Hryb (Public Health Centre Ukraine) discussed how they are delivering type 2 diabetes screening in challenging circumstances, underscoring resilience and commitment to patient care.

Across all pilots, a clear message emerged: prevention must be systematic, data-informed and patient-centred.

Women and cardiovascular health: advancing equity

The mid-morning session turned the focus on women with cardiovascular disease (CVD), a key pillar of JACARDI’s commitment to equity and diversity in cardiovascular and diabetes care. The session featured a keynote from JACARDI’s own Dr Héctor Bueno, Co-Leader on the Work Package on Data, who delivered a powerful message: “women are not small men”. His presentation emphasised the need to recognise sex-specific differences in disease presentation, diagnosis, and management.

This was further explored by Dr Mary Ryder, Associate Professor of General Nursing, and Prof. Amy O’Higgins, Consultant Obstetrician at The Coombe Hospital, offering complementary perspectives. Dr Ryder discussed the importance of addressing social determinants of health in cardiovascular prevention, while Prof O’Higgins focused on optimising cardiovascular health during pregnancy, a critical window for long‑term outcomes.

The session was rounded out by a patient story, providing a personal perspective on living with CVD. Her experiences reinforced the human impact behind the statistics and research, leaving a lasting impression on all attendees.

Diabetes and cardiovascular health

The afternoon session turned to diabetes, reflecting its deep interconnection with cardiovascular disease. Dr James (Jim) Januzzi from Harvard Medical School delivered a keynote on heart failure risk across the spectrum of dysglycaemia, stressing the need for integrated approaches. Dr Lisa Devine outlined the successes of Ireland’s Chronic Disease Management Programme, demonstrating how structured, national-level programmes can support early detection, patient engagement, and improved outcomes.

Finally, Prof. Sean Dinneen discussed progress toward a National Diabetes Registry in Ireland, reinforcing the importance of robust data to ensure interventions reach those who need them most, and highlighted the synergies brought about by projects such as JACARDI.

People at the heart of prevention

One of the strongest impressions from the day was how much can be achieved when expertise, curiosity, and compassion are translated into structured action. The symposium wasn’t just about data, tools, or programmes. It was about people: the teams working on the ground across Europe translating strategy into practice, the patients whose stories remind us why these efforts matter, and the exchange of knowledge among colleagues united in a common purpose.

The symposium left attendees not only informed but inspired. It reaffirmed the importance of integrated, patient-centred approaches for a healthier and stronger Europe.

Cardiovascular health in focus: new OECD report and JACARDI experts highlight the path from data to implementation

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) still causes around 1.7 million deaths every year in the European Union. It remains a leading cause of mortality, although most of this burden is preventable. That was the key message of the OECD webinar on 10 February presenting the new EU-funded report ‘State of Cardiovascular Health in the European Union’, which also introduced new monitoring tools and highlighted how the EU Safe Hearts Plan can be translated into practical action, with JACARDI playing an active implementation role. 

The webinar, moderated by Francesca Colombo, Head of the Health Division at the OECD Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, brought together more than 300 participants from EU institutions, national authorities, research, clinical practice and patient organisations.

Opening the event, Antonio Parenti from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety warned that progress in reducing cardiovascular deaths has slowed across Europe. Without stronger prevention and earlier intervention, the overall burden could grow substantially. The recently launched EU Safe Hearts Plan is designed to support Member States in strengthening national plans across prevention, screening, treatment and rehabilitation, with particular attention to vulnerable groups and inequalities in access to care.

New OECD data presented during the webinar show that over three-quarters of cardiovascular deaths in the EU are linked to modifiable risk factors, and trends are worsening in several areas. Around 22% of EU residents live with hypertension, 15% with obesity and 8% with diabetes, while psychosocial risks such as stress, depression and sleep problems affect roughly one third of the population. 

Important screening gaps persist: in the 45–54 age group, nearly three in ten adults have not had their blood pressure checked in the past year, and many have gone five years without testing blood sugar or cholesterol. Speakers stressed that screening only improves outcomes when it is followed by timely diagnosis, treatment and long-term patient support.

From the patient perspective, the panel highlighted that delays and fragmentation in diagnosis and care pathways remain a major barrier to better cardiovascular outcomes. Konstantina Boumaki, Board Member of the European Patients’ Forum, warned that late diagnosis and long waiting times not only worsen prognosis but also erode patient trust in the system. She stressed that reducing inequalities is not about delivering identical care to everyone, but about ensuring that all patients can truly access timely diagnosis, treatment and support; a principle that should guide how national cardiovascular plans are designed and implemented.

Alongside the report, the OECD and the European Commission launched a new Cardiovascular Health Dashboard, an online platform that allows policymakers, researchers and the public to track risk factors, care quality and patient pathways across EU countries.

From measurement to implementation

The discussion focused on a recurring weak point in public health policy: implementation. While the evidence on cardiovascular prevention and care is strong, most strategies fail in execution, noted Dr Héctor Bueno, co-leader of JACARDI’s Work Package on data and scientific coordinator of the Cardiovascular Health Strategy of Spain’s National Health System. The key is a clear vision, participation of patients and citizens, as well as political ownership.

Plans only deliver results when they are operational, measurable and realistic, stressed Dr Bueno. Measurement “is essential for visibility and accountability: without indicators, progress cannot be tracked”. 

He described how the Spanish strategy is built on a broad indicator framework covering prevention, primary care, acute and chronic care, gender aspects and education, supported by a core set of priority measures. Digital integration, interoperable registries and automated data systems are critical to make monitoring sustainable. Dr Bueno also underlined that aligning scientific evidence, political commitment and citizen engagement is as important as funding when moving from strategy to practice.

JACARDI’s cross-sector contribution to the Safe Hearts Plan

Dr Benedetta Armocida, coordinator of JACARDI, highlighted how the joint action supports the Safe Hearts Plan through cross-sector and patient-journey approaches that connect health literacy, risk awareness, screening and prevention with long-term care pathways. “Cardiovascular prevention is not only a health system responsibility but a societal one, requiring coordinated action across sectors,” Dr Armocida noted, reflecting a Health in All Policies approach. 

JACARDI pilots already include early-life interventions to improve children’s understanding of cardiovascular risk and workplace-focused prevention models, alongside broader work on food literacy, healthy environments and equitable access. Digital health and AI tools can accelerate impact, she added, “but only if they are properly integrated into routine care, trusted by users and supported through professional training”. 

The overall conclusion was clear: Europe now has stronger data, shared metrics and a dedicated policy framework through the Safe Hearts Plan. With its indicator frameworks, cross-sector pilots and implementation focus, JACARDI is helping to transform evidence and ambition into tangible improvements in cardiovascular health. 

References:

OECD (2025), The State of Cardiovascular Health in the European Union, OECD Publishing, Paris 

EU Safe Hearts Plan (pdf)

The State of Cardiovascular Health in Europe Dashboard, OECD

The Cardiovascular Health Strategy (CVHS) of Spain’s National Health System, Ministry of Health, Spain (pdf)

A Short Guide to Screening for Individuals at Increased Risk of Developing Cardiovascular Diseases and Type 2 Diabetes

As work progresses on a harmonized EU approach to health checks under the EU Safe Hearts Plan, JACARDI has published its Short Guide for Screening. The document provides practical, evidence-based recommendations to support the organization and implementation of effective screening activities across Europe. It is intended as a quick, accessible reference for public health professionals, policymakers, and other stakeholders involved in planning, designing, or evaluating risk assessment and screening approaches for cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. The guide was developed by lead authors William Leysen of Diabetes Liga (Belgium) and Hanna Tolonen, Director of Research and Development at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), together with a wider team of JACARDI experts.

Authors: William Leysen, Alessandra Cardinale, Alexandra Cucu, Aurélie Lampaert, Beatrice Formenti, Benedetta Armocida, Benedetta Marcozzi, Carmen Angheluta, Claudia Dima, Claudia Giacomozzi, Eeva Rantala, Fanny Monet, Giovanni Calcagnini, Hanna Elonheimo, Jelka Zaletel, Jill Farrington, Jorik Vergauwen, Krista Kruja, Laura Paalanen, Luigi Palmieri, Massimiliano Petrelli, Mattei Eugenio, Paola Santalucia, Petry Milos, Roberta Papa, Ruth Verdegem, Sue Cohen, Tsvetalina Tankova, Hanna Tolonen

Abstract:

The aim of this short guide, developed within the framework of the Joint Action on Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes (JACARDI), a European Joint Action co-funded by the EU4Health Programme, is to provide an overview of approaches for identifying individuals or segments of the population at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) or Type 2 diabetes (T2D). These approaches may include population-level monitoring, individual risk assessment, population segmentation, and also screening. When appropriately designed and implemented, such approaches can support primary prevention efforts by helping to target interventions that tackle harmful risk factors and encourage protective factors.

While not all risk assessment methods constitute formal screening programmes, they may still inform policies and practice. For instance, individual-level risk assessment can support clinical decision-making, whereas population-level stratification can guide broader public health strategies. In some cases, risk identification may also facilitate earlier diagnosis, provided that it is linked to follow-up, diagnosis and treatment pathways. However, any assumptions about improved health outcomes must be supported by evidence, and should consider the full pathway from identification to intervention.

This guide is intended as a quick reference, summarizing key concepts related to the use of risk assessment and stratification approaches in the context of CVD and T2D prevention, the focus being on primary prevention within a public health framework. For comprehensive discussions and detailed guidance on specific screening programmes, readers are encouraged to consult additional sources listed in this document.

Read the full guide here:

Short Guide for Screening Individuals at Increased Risk of Developing CVDs and T2D

Call for papers: join the scientific debate on cardiovascular disease and diabetes

The current policy landscape offers unique momentum for strengthening collective action on noncommunicable diseases. To stimulate discussion on the challenges and opportunities related to cardiovascular disease and diabetes, the International Journal of Public Health and Public Health Reviews have opened a joint call for papers.

Authors are invited to submit Original Articles, Theory and Concept papers, Reviews, and Policy Briefs for the special issue “Strengthening the public health response to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes”. The call for papers is open until 15 January 2027. Submissions will be reviewed by an editorial board that includes two experts from JACARDI, Yhasmine Hamu and Edwin Wouters.

Developed in line with the JACARDI mission, the special issue seeks to foster actionable knowledge that advances effective, equitable, and sustainable responses. Its aim is to support healthier lives, more resilient health systems, and stronger commitment to tackling noncommunicable diseases.

Topics of interest, identified in collaboration with JACARDI, include:

• Primary prevention, including health literacy, awareness, and health promotion
• Screening of high-risk populations
• Integrated health pathways, including health care organization, patient self-management, and reintegration into the workforce
• Data infrastructure and digital technologies as drivers of evidence-informed decision-making and innovation
• Health system strengthening, with a focus on governance, financing, and service delivery
• Strategies to reduce health inequities and ensure that populations living in vulnerable situations are not left behind

Accepted papers will be published on a rolling basis in the online special issue.

Be part of the call and support the creation and dissemination of knowledge that strengthens our public health response to cardiovascular disease and diabetes!

For more information on the call visit the website of the International Journal of Public Health.

How JACARDI can support the implementation of the EU Safe Hearts Plan

Benedetta Armocida, coordinator of JACARDI, presented the Joint Action’s role in shaping screening and early detection approaches under the Safe Hearts Plan, during a dedicated webinar organized by the European Commission.

On 15 January 2026, the European Commission hosted the first stakeholder webinar dedicated to the Safe Hearts Plan, the EU’s first-ever cardiovascular health plan, adopted on 16 December 2025. The online event brought together nearly 500 stakeholders from across Europe and provided a key platform to exchange views on how to support the implementation of the Plan and its flagship initiatives [1].

The webinar [2] marked an important milestone in the roll-out of the Safe Hearts Plan, which aims to tackle cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the leading cause of mortality in the European Union, through coordinated action on prevention, early detection and screening, and treatment, care and rehabilitation, while addressing cross-cutting challenges such as data and digitalisation, research and innovation, and health inequalities.

Opening the meeting, Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi, underlined the urgency of action and the importance of collaboration with stakeholders to turn the Plan into concrete results.

“Cardiovascular diseases remain Europe’s number one killer, placing a growing burden on our health systems, societies and economies. With the Safe Hearts Plan, we now have a strong policy tool at EU level, but its success will depend on close cooperation with Member States and stakeholders to make it a reality,” said Commissioner Várhelyi.

Supporting early detection and screening

During the webinar, the coordinators of key Joint Actions, JACARDI and JA PreventNCD, presented how their work contributes to the implementation of the Safe Hearts Plan. Dr Benedetta Armocida, coordinator of JACARDI, highlighted the Joint Action’s strong alignment with Pillar 2 of the Plan: early detection and screening, including the flagship initiative on an EU Protocol on Health Checks for CVDs.

JACARDI brings together 21 countries and 81 partners, working to translate EU priorities into concrete, country-level implementation. In particular, Work Package 8 on screening high-risk populations, led by Hanna Tolonen and Luigi Palmieri, is developing common protocols and tools to support Member States in the design, organisation and sustainability of effective screening programmes.

“We are testing and implementing practical solutions that can support the Safe Hearts Plan on the ground. Our pilot projects on early detection and screening aim to generate evidence and tools that help Member States reach high-risk populations, while embedding equity and sustainability across all activities. The aim is to provide further evidence and the result of our pilots to support the implementation of the European plan,” said Dr Armocida.

In practice, JACARDI is implementing 19 pilot projects focused on screening for CVDs and diabetes across different European countries, assessing the feasibility of diverse screening approaches. The Joint Action has also developed an online risk assessment tool selection guide, supporting professionals in selecting appropriate risk prediction methods.

Addressing inequalities is a core priority for JACARDI, fully aligned with the Safe Hearts Plan. Across its 143 pilot projects, the Joint Action promotes equity and diversity, targeting both the general population and high-risk groups, with a focus on integrated care pathways, self-management and social participation.

The webinar also showcased the strong alignment between the Safe Hearts Plan and other EU initiatives. Knut Jønsrud, project manager of JA PreventNCD, emphasised the importance of addressing key risk factors and reducing social inequalities through a life-course approach.

“Several flagship initiatives of the Safe Hearts Plan, such as modernising tobacco control legislation and strengthening health literacy, are closely aligned with our work. A people-centred, equity-focused approach and cross-sectoral collaboration are essential to achieving lasting impact,” said Jønsrud.

A coordinated EU response

Antonio Parenti, director for Public Health, Cancer and Human Security in the Directorate General for Human and Food Security of the European Commission (DG SANTE), stressed the scale of the challenge posed by CVDs and the need for decisive, coordinated action at EU level.

“CVDs cost the EU more than €280 billion every year. Without strong and coordinated action, this burden will continue to grow, affecting future generations, health systems and economic resilience. The Safe Hearts Plan is our collective response to this challenge,” Parenti stated.

He highlighted the Plan’s three pillars and its ten flagship initiatives, designed to improve population health, foster innovation and support sustainable healthcare systems. Prevention remains a cornerstone of the Plan, as nearly 80% of CVDs can be prevented through lifestyle changes, alongside strengthened, patient-centred and multidisciplinary care [3].

Next steps

The European Commission will now collect and analyse the feedback and ideas shared by stakeholders during the webinar. A second stakeholder webinar is planned for the second half of 2026, ensuring continued dialogue as the Safe Hearts Plan moves into its implementation phase.

For JACARDI, the webinar confirmed the relevance of Joint Actions as key instruments to support EU health policies and demonstrated how collaborative, evidence-based approaches can help reduce the burden of CVDs across Europe.

[1] About the Safe Hearts Plan flagship initiatives

Adopted in December 2025, the EU Safe Hearts Plan is underpinned by ten flagship initiatives designed to deliver clear EU added value across prevention, care and innovation, while supporting Member States in addressing cardiovascular diseases in a coordinated and sustainable way:d

• A lifelong, personalised and digitally enabled prevention programme – ‘EU cares for your heart’
• Empowering consumers through information on food processing in the EU
• Modernising tobacco control legislation
• The Commission will examine which appropriate tools, including possible financial actions, could be deployed to support/fund public health actions in the field of primary prevention and stimulate food reformulation and healthier consumer choices
• Proposal for a Council recommendation on vaccination against respiratory infections as a preventive measure for cardiovascular diseases
• EU protocol on health checks for cardiovascular diseases
• Proposal for a Council recommendation on personalised treatment and monitoring of cardiovascular diseases
• Incubator for innovation and integration of AI and digital technologies in cardiovascular healthcare
• EU cardiovascular health inequalities dashboard
• Cardiovascular Disease Research and Innovation Roadmap

[2] Stakeholder Webinar the Safe Hearts Plan – Meeting documents
[3] Questions and answers on the EU Safe Hearts Plan

Navigating adulthood with juvenile-onset type 1 diabetes: a scoping review on education, employment and quality of life

Scientific publications by JACARDI

In this post series we share the scientific publications directly linked to the JACARDI project. All publications featured in this series are authored or co-authored by JACARDI partners and reflect research and findings developed within the project framework.  

We aim to showcase how evidence supports our joint mission to tackle cardiovascular diseases and diabetes across Europe. 

Stay informed on how JACARDI turns evidence into action.

Authors: Eleonora Maurel, Arianna Fornari, Alessandra Knowles, Erika Guastafierro, Martina Lanza, Alessia Marcassoli, Matilde Leonardi, Luca Ronfani and Lorenzo Monasta 

Abstract:

 Background: Juvenile type 1 diabetes can present lifelong challenges that may affect educational, employment, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes in adulthood. This scoping review aims at exploring the long-term impact of juvenile-onset type 1 diabetes on education and career achievements and well-being in adulthood. 

Methods: A scoping review conducted using PubMed and PsycInfo (2005– 2025) identified studies comparing adults diagnosed with type 1 diabetes during childhood and adolescence to controls without type 1 diabetes. Three studies focusing on educational attainment, employment, income, and HRQoL, met the inclusion criteria. 

Results: The studies included in the review show that university attendance is significantly lower among individuals with juvenile-onset type 1 diabetes, and this affects both men and women. Access to the labor market and earnings are similarly affected, especially in the case of women who experience both lower employment rates and income, compared to controls without diabetes. Men with type 1 diabetes have equal opportunities for workforce entry, but this does not translate into long-term income parity. Compared to healthy controls, HRQoL is lower among adults with type 1 diabetes, particularly in the school/work and emotional domains. Common challenges include low energy, forgetfulness, and concentration difficulties. 

Conclusion: While it is a matter of debate how juvenile-onset type 1 diabetes affects academic achievements, there is general agreement that it leads to persistent disadvantages in employment and HRQoL in adulthood. Targeted support from diagnosis and during transition to adulthood is essential to mitigate the long-term impact of juvenile-onset type 1 diabetes on educational, employment and psychosocial outcomes for this population. 

Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1707581/full

A defining CVH moment in Europe: The Commission announced the Safe Hearts Plan

“When Europe acts together, we do not simply improve systems, we improve lives,” points out Benedetta Armocida, Coordinator of JACARDI, as the European Union’s Cardiovascular Health Plan is launched. At a time when cardiovascular disease remains Europe’s leading cause of death, this moment marks a collective step toward strengthening heart health across the continent.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death and disability in Europe, as confirmed by the newly released OECD report “The State of Cardiovascular Health in the European Union“. CVD claims 1.7 million lives each year, more than cancer and diabetes combined, and affects an estimated 62 million people. CVDs also contribute significantly to disability, early retirement, and absenteeism, lower the quality of life and reduce life expectancy, according to data from the European Commission [1], [2], [3].

The total economic burden of CVD in the EU is estimated at EUR 282 billion annually, around 2% of GDP, and significantly higher than that of cancer. The OECD report highlights stark geographic, gender and socio-economic disparities in cardiovascular outcomes and access to care, reinforcing the need for coordinated EU-level action. It also acknowledges JACARDI’s input to the report, and references JACARDI’s 4C Framework and pilot actions in France and Spain.

Bearing that in mind, the European Commission’s launch of the Cardiovascular Health Plan, under the name Safe Hearts Plan, marks a decisive moment for public health in the region. JACARDI strongly welcomes this Plan, as coordinated European action is essential to reduce the number of people falling ill with cardiovascular diseases, and to prevent premature deaths for those with existing conditions or risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.

“The launch of the Cardiovascular Health Plan marks a pivotal moment for Europe’s public health. JACARDI welcomes this initiative, recognizing the crucial role of Joint Actions in fostering collaboration among countries, experts, and stakeholders. By working together, sharing knowledge, and aligning efforts, we can ensure that advances in prevention, care, and innovation in cardiovascular health truly reach all communities, leaving no one behind,” notes Prof Graziano Onder, Scientific Coordinator of JACARDI.

The Plan arrives at a critical time. For too long, CVD and diabetes have lacked the political visibility their burden demands. The CVH Plan opens the door to a new European approach that puts prevention first, strengthens early detection and screening, and promotes equity and integrated, patient-centred care across health systems. For JACARDI, this initiative is an essential step towards making the healthy choice the easy and default choice for citizens across Europe.

“The CVH Plan is a decisive step forward, and JACARDI is proud to contribute with its experience and technical expertise. Our work shows that no cardiovascular strategy can be effective without putting equity at the centre, addressing the gaps linked to income, geography, education and gender that still shape health outcomes across Europe. We look forward to supporting the implementation of a Plan that has the potential to change lives across the region”, explains Dr Benedetta Armocida, coordinator of JACARDI.

The CVH Plan is needed as fragmented efforts can no longer address challenges that are inherently interconnected. “Prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, digital innovation, community engagement, these elements only create real impact when they are aligned and mutually reinforcing”, adds Dr Armocida.

Equally important is the improvement of data collection and use, ensuring that high-quality, reliable information drives policy decisions, guides clinical practice and allows progress to be measured transparently across countries, as highlighted in a recent policy paper published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, developed jointly by the Joint Action on Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes (JACARDI), the Joint Action Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases (JA PreventNCD), and the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe), [4].

“Robust and accessible data are essential to understand where inequalities arise, to identify people at risk earlier and to ensure timely, high-quality care across Europe. Strengthening data systems, from availability and quality to interoperability and sharing, is key to improving early detection, screening programmes and continuity of care”, says Dr Héctor Bueno, co-leader of the working group on data availability, quality, accessibility and sharing from JACARDI.

Through its multidisciplinary network, technical expertise and strong partnerships, JACARDI stands ready to support the successful rollout of the Safe Hearts Plan. The Joint Action will continue to contribute practical knowledge on prevention, governance, data systems and quality of care, building on lessons learned from other European health initiatives and aligning closely with the shared vision set out by the European cardiovascular community.

Joint Actions are more than projects, they are engines of collaboration. JACARDI can serve as a bridge between countries, stakeholders, and other EU initiatives, helping to translate the CVH Plan into coordinated, coherent, and sustainable action across Europe.

JACARDI is generating concrete insights on equity, early detection, integrated care, digital tools, data systems, and workforce capacity. These lessons, grounded in practice and validated across diverse health systems, can inform the plan’s priorities, standards, and operational frameworks. JACARDI remains fully committed to supporting the European Commission in prioritizing the Cardiovascular Health Plan and promoting its effective implementation across Member States, ensuring that every step forward translates into meaningful impact for people’s health.

The Safe Hearts Plan at a glance:

• Prioritises prevention as one of its main pillars
• Sets clear targets, including reducing mortality related to cardiovascular disease by 25% by 2035
• Encourages Member States to develop or implement national cardiovascular health plans by 2027
• Emphasises reducing health inequalities and improving access to healthcare
• Supports an EU protocol on health checks to shift the focus from treatment to prevention
• Addresses lifestyle risks, including unhealthy diets, ultra-processed foods, and smoking

Read the full European Commission Safe Hearts Plan here.


References:
[1] OECD (2025), The State of Cardiovascular Health in the European Union, OECD Publishing, Paris,
[2] Cardiovascular health; European Commission
[3] Fighting cardiovascular disease – a blueprint for EU action, June 2020. European Heart Network and the European Society of Cardiology.
[4] Benedetta Armocida, Hanna Tolonen, Ivo Rakovac, Beatrice Formenti, Jill Farrington, Allison Ekberg, Hector Bueno, Giovanni Capelli, Silvia Francisci, Morten S. Frydensberg, Ane Fullaondo, Linda Granlund, Yhasmine Hamu Azcarate, Torben F. Hansen, Emil Høstrup, Tomi Mäki-Opas, Luigi Palmieri, Markku Peltonen, Valentina Possenti, Marco Silano, Gundo Weiler, Kremlin Wickramasinghe, Edwin Wouters, Knut-Inge Klepp, Graziano Onder, Gauden Galea, Strengthening non-communicable diseases monitoring systems in Europe through a multistakeholder collaborative approach: a key priority for advancing data-driven policymaking, The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, Volume 61, 2026, 101553, ISSN 2666-7762,

A historic step for global health: UN adopts declaration on NCDs and mental health

The Eightieth United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a landmark global political declaration to tackle noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health in an integrated way, recognising that conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory illnesses and mental health disorders are now the leading causes of death, disability and lost opportunity worldwide.

This declaration marks a pivotal shift in global health policy, setting concrete, measurable targets for 2030 and calling on governments to act with urgency, equity and accountability.

The first-ever global outcome targets set out by the declaration to be achieved by 2030 include:

• 150 million fewer tobacco users;
• 150 million more people with hypertension under control;
• 150 million more people with access to mental health care.

The declaration goes beyond health systems, addressing the wider determinants of health – such as air pollution, unhealthy diets, harmful marketing practices, and digital harms – and emphasises that NCDs and mental health must be tackled together, through whole-of-government and whole-of-society collaboration.

This is a huge opportunity to reset global efforts and accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, especially on reducing premature deaths and promoting well-being for all.

Where JACARDI fits in

JACARDI’s mission aligns directly with this global vision. By advancing evidence-based, integrated prevention and care models for cardiovascular disease and diabetes – key components of the NCD burden – JACARDI helps translate these high-level political commitments into action on the ground.

Our work in harmonising data, strengthening health pathways, supporting policy implementation, and fostering cross-country learning directly contributes to the declaration’s ambitions of measurable impact and equity. With its emphasis on collaboration, scalability, prevention and inclusion, JACARDI is uniquely positioned to support Member States in meeting these targets, bridging research, policy and practice for lasting change.

Croí’s Healthy Hearts Club: empowering patients in heart disease self-management

Croí, the heart and stroke charity based in the west of Ireland, is leading one of Ireland’s pilot projects as part of JACARDI. This pilot, called the Healthy Hearts Club, focuses on patient self-management for those recovering from heart events, such as heart attacks. It aims to help individuals manage long-term health risks like high blood pressure and low physical activity. This project builds on Croí’s experience in heart disease prevention and rehabilitation and provides a crucial support system to patients after their initial cardiac rehabilitation.

A Sustainable Model for Long-Term Health

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, and many patients face challenges in maintaining the positive changes achieved during rehabilitation. The Healthy Hearts Club offers a community-based model to help patients continue managing their heart health after formal rehabilitation ends.

“Cardiac rehabilitation is life-saving, but sustaining those changes is key to long-term health,” says Dr. Susan Connolly, Consultant Cardiologist at University Hospital Galway, who is a co-investigator on the project. “The Healthy Hearts Club provides ongoing support and helps patients stay on track with their health goals.”

The programme involves up to 160 patients, all of whom have completed cardiac rehabilitation through the through the Irish health service in Galway. Participants engage in six months of support, including regular nurse check-ins and group workshops on exercise, nutrition, emotional wellbeing, and heart disease risk factors. This ongoing support aims to help participants integrate these healthy habits into their daily lives.

Supporting Long-Term Change through Personalised Care

The Healthy Hearts Club emphasizes peer support, personalized care, and group activities tailored to the participants’ needs. By joining the programme soon after rehabilitation, patients are given the tools to continue the progress they’ve made, ensuring sustainable change over the long term.

“We believe that empowering people with the knowledge and tools to manage their health is essential for sustainable, person-centered care,” says Dr. Lisa Hynes, Head of Health Programmes at Croí. “This initiative aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering innovative prevention and self-management programmes.”

In addition to in-person support, Croí will explore the use of digital health tools to further enhance the programme. Building on the success of Croí’s previous online self-management programme, the Healthy Hearts Club will assess how digital solutions can support long-term heart health.

A European Approach to Heart Disease Prevention

One of JACARDI’s goals is to integrate best practices across the entire patient journey—from screening and self-management to integrated care and workforce reintegration. The Healthy Hearts Club is a key component of this effort, with the programme’s evaluation aiming to develop scalable models for improving heart disease management across Europe.

“We’re excited to see how this project evolves and contributes to the broader European conversation on heart health,” says Dr. Connolly. “The insights we gain will help improve the long-term care and outcomes for patients.”

A Collaborative Effort for a Healthier Future

Croí’s leadership in the Healthy Hearts Club is part of the wider JACARDI programme, which connects Irish experts with a pan-European network of professionals working to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Dr. Hynes adds, “This collaboration with the HSE and European partners is a unique opportunity to learn from each other and translate research into real-world improvements in care.”

Sarah Cuschieri: Transforming small-state initiatives into the strength of Europe

Dr. Sarah Cuschieri, a leading voice in chronic disease epidemiology and small-state health systems, shares her insights on how JACARDI can accelerate Europe’s fight against cardiovascular disease and diabetes. “When every country speaks the same practical language of prevention, collaboration becomes scalable”, she explains. She also reflects on the importance of data, inclusion, and mentoring the next generation, reminding us that effective prevention is both a scientific and a human endeavour.

Drawing on your work in chronic disease epidemiology and the realities of small states, where do you see JACARDI’s greatest leverage in slowing the rise of cardiovascular disease and diabetes across Europe?

Drawing on my experience in chronic disease epidemiology and the realities of small states, JACARDI’s greatest leverage lies in transforming small-state initiatives into the strength of Europe.

First, small states can act as test beds for integrated prevention and care pathways, where whole-population coverage, centralized health systems, and close primary–secondary linkages allow rapid piloting and evaluation of cardiovascular and diabetes interventions. Evidence generated in these compact settings can be rapidly refined and transferred to larger Member States.

Second, small states excel at policy agility. With short governance chains, multidisciplinary teams, and accessible data infrastructures, they can translate guidelines into everyday practice faster than larger systems. Embedding JACARDI’s harmonized tools and care pathway templates in these contexts demonstrates how evidence can move from paper to patient in real time.

Third, small states provide a unique lens on equity and resilience. Their populations often mirror Europe’s diversity within a manageable scale, making them ideal for testing community-level engagement, health-literacy interventions, and cross-sector collaboration for risk-factor reduction.

By harnessing these advantages—rapid implementation, whole-system evaluation, and equitable design—JACARDI can convert its evidence base into practical, scalable prevention and care models that slow the rise of cardiovascular disease and diabetes across Europe.

How does participating in JACARDI advance your organisation’s goals on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes – whether through data, capacity-building, or policy impact?

From our vantage point at the University of Malta and through our broader collaboration within the Small States Health Platform, participation in JACARDI directly advances our institutional goals in CVD and diabetes prevention by strengthening the bridge between evidence, policy, and practice.

As a small island state with a centralized health system and accessible national datasets, Malta offers a unique setting to pilot integrated chronic disease pathways, risk factor surveillance tools, and community-based prevention models. Through JACARDI, we can both contribute real-world evidence from a small-population context and adapt proven interventions to local realities such as limited specialist capacity and high multimorbidity.

Moreover, JACARDI aligns with the University’s commitment to capacity building and implementation science, empowering clinicians, public health professionals, and researchers to translate data into sustainable prevention and care strategies. By embedding our work within this pan-European network, we ensure that Malta’s experience informs regional learning, while also benefitting from shared innovation to accelerate progress on CVD and diabetes management across small states and beyond.

You’ve often bridged research, policy, and practice. How do you think JACARDI can set a new standard for collaboration – across countries, disciplines, and data systems – so prevention becomes easier to implement and harder to ignore?

JACARDI has the potential to redefine how Europe collaborates on chronic disease prevention by turning fragmentation into function. Its strength lies in uniting researchers, policymakers, and practitioners around a shared implementation framework rather than isolated projects.

From a small-state perspective, success depends on breaking silos through simplicity and shared value. JACARDI can set a new standard by creating common, adaptable prevention “building blocks”, standardized care pathways, minimal data dashboards, and training modules that can be easily embedded into national systems, regardless of size or resources. When every country speaks the same practical language of prevention, collaboration becomes scalable.

Equally important is data solidarity, linking health information systems through harmonized indicators rather than complex infrastructures. This enables meaningful cross-country learning while respecting local capacities and governance.

Finally, JACARDI’s cross-disciplinary model, bringing together clinicians, epidemiologists, behavioural scientists, and community actors makes prevention not only evidence-based but implementable. By focusing on what works in real settings, it can make prevention easier to deliver and harder to ignore, setting a benchmark for how Europe acts collectively against cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

As a female leader in epidemiology who mentors the next generation, what were your key take-aways from the JACARDI General Assembly in Madrid, from a scientific and cultural point of view?

As a female leader in epidemiology, and someone deeply committed to mentoring the next generation, I left the JACARDI General Assembly in Madrid with a renewed sense of both scientific purpose and shared humanity. Scientifically, I want us to consolidate how JACARDI’s pilots are not just generating data, but truly changing practice, showing that prevention of cardiovascular disease and diabetes can be embedded into everyday care, across every health system, large or small.

Culturally, the moment JACARDI turned pink carries special meaning for me. It symbolises equity, voice, and visibility, giving women in science, medicine, and policy the space to lead and shape health agendas. It reminds us that public health is not only about outcomes but about inclusion and compassion.

I left Madrid knowing that we are building a network where collaboration transcends borders and disciplines, and where every young researcher – especially women – can see themselves reflected in leadership, discovery, and change. That, to me, would be the true legacy of JACARDI.

You made it to the top 2% of the most cited scientists in the world for five consecutive years, and you’ve written the book “To Do or Not to Do a PhD?” offering guidance to early-career researchers. What message would you send to young researchers, especially women just starting their careers in public health, particularly when facing various challenges?

I would tell young researchers – especially women – that they belong in this space, even when they have doubts. Every scientist, at every stage, faces moments of uncertainty; what matters is not the absence of doubt, but the courage to keep contributing despite it.

From my own journey, and through mentoring many early-career researchers, I’ve learned that success in public health is rarely a straight line. Structural barriers exist, but so do strong networks, mentors, and communities like JACARDI that value inclusion and collaboration. Seek those spaces that lift you up, and don’t be afraid to take your place at the table.

When I wrote To Do or Not to Do a PhD?, it was to remind researchers that impact isn’t defined by titles or citations—it’s defined by curiosity, persistence, and integrity. Imposter syndrome fades when you realize that public health needs diverse voices, perspectives, and lived experiences.

So my message is simple: be bold, be kind, and keep going. Science is richer, and societies are healthier, when you do.

Dr. Sarah Cuschieri is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Malta, Adjunct Professor at Western University, Canada, and a member of JACARDI’s Scientific Advisory Board. A medical doctor turned epidemiologist, she leads pioneering research into obesity, diabetes and chronic disease across small‑state contexts, heads the Chronic Disease Epidemiology Research Network and serves as Vice‑President of the Chronic Diseases Section of European Public Health Association (EUPHA). Internationally recognized for her scholarship, she ranks among the top 2% of most‑cited scientists. 

Learn more about Dr. Cuschieri and her work, or connect on LinkedIn.