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)

JACARDI takes the floor at OECD policy dialogue on Europe’s Cardiovascular Health

On 5 May 2025, the OECD convened a high-level policy dialogue in Brussels to address one of Europe’s most pressing public health challenges: the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). With the participation of the European Commission and key representatives from national governments, civil society, and international organisations, the event marked an important moment in shaping the OECD’s analytical work on CVD trends, prevention, and care across the EU. Represented by its Coordination Team, JACARDI brought forward lessons from its cross-country collaboration, referencing tools, frameworks, and reflections that align with the OECD’s strategic priorities, particularly around equity, data, and cross-sectoral integration.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality and morbidity across Europe, placing immense pressure on health systems, economies, and societies. Addressing this burden demands more than incremental change—it requires a shared, data-driven, and equity-focused vision for action.

The OECD’s policy dialogue, “Burden of Cardiovascular Disease in the EU,” held on 5 May 2025 with the participation of the European Commission, convened key stakeholders to discuss forthcoming OECD work that aims to analyse trends in CVD burden, prevention, and management across the EU.
The event gathered representatives from national governments, civil society, and intergovernmental organisations to ensure that the forthcoming report reflects stakeholder priorities and is rooted in collective insight.

JACARDI—the Joint Action on Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes—was represented by its Coordination Team: Benedetta Armocida, Graziano Onder and Beatrice Formenti. During both plenary and roundtable sessions, JACARDI shared reflections on the future of CVD response in Europe, highlighting insights from its ongoing collaboration with countries and stakeholders. The Joint Action welcomed this opportunity to align with OECD’s strategic direction and contribute to a common agenda for strengthening CVD prevention and control.

Six key areas of alignment were highlighted:

1. A shared framework: the Patient Journey
   Echoing the OECD’s analytical framework, JACARDI supports a patient-centred approach that addresses the full continuum of care—from health promotion and early prevention to integrated treatment and long-term management. This patient journey model underpins JACARDI’s operational structure and is currently being implemented through real-world pilots in 18 European countries.
   Notably, JACARDI integrates cardiovascular diseases and diabetes within a unified framework, recognising their clinical, biological, and systemic interlinkages. This convergence reflects a growing consensus: that sustainable improvement in population health requires integrated, system-strengthening, and equity-oriented solutions.
2. Equity as a structural imperative
   JACARDI endorses the OECD’s emphasis on reducing health inequities, particularly among migrants, ethnic minorities, and other underserved groups. Equity is not an add-on but a core pillar of JACARDI’s approach—operationalised through the 4C Equity Framework: Critical reflection, Contextualised data, Co-design, and Clear, inclusive communication.
   This commitment is made tangible through specific tools like capacity-building masterclasses, a dedicated maturity matrix, and pilot initiatives targeting institutional barriers, including racism and discrimination in healthcare. JACARDI advocates for the standardisation and institutionalisation of such equity-driven models across EU health policies and programmes.
3. Putting women’s hearts on the Agenda: gender-sensitive CVD responses
   Despite notable advances in CVD care, gender disparities persist. Women remain underdiagnosed, undertreated, and underrepresented in research—leading to suboptimal outcomes. JACARDI addresses these challenges through a gender-sensitive approach, following The Lancet Commission on Women and Cardiovascular Disease which underscores the need to embed sex- and gender-specific data into every level of policy and practice.
   For example, in Spain, an interactive tool is being developed to map gender-based health disparities regionally. In France, a comprehensive data linkage is underway to examine how gender and social deprivation intersect in influencing disease risk and care pathways. These initiatives represent a shift toward gender-responsive and inclusive health systems.
4. Data for change: building the evidence base
   Fragmented, delayed, and non-comparable data continue to hinder effective CVD policy implementation. There is a pressing need for harmonised, disaggregated, and interoperable health data—especially data disaggregated by sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
   JACARDI is addressing this gap by developing a conceptual data framework for mapping and improving national and regional datasets. The framework spans risk factors, disease conditions, and modifiers of disease or care across population, outpatient, and hospital settings. The information is also structured by domains (care, results, quality indicators), offering a comprehensive and standardised approach to data mapping.
   This framework will inform a practical consultation tool to support standardised, comparable, and interoperable data collection across Europe. The aim is to enhance research, promote accountability, and strengthen European health information systems in alignment with OECD, WHO, and EC priorities.
5. Screening and early detection
   A key recommendation from JACARDI reported within the dialogue was the creation of a centralised platform to oversee CVD screening—ensuring quality, transparency, and accountability throughout all stages, from design to evaluation. Such a platform would also house validated risk prediction tools tailored to diverse populations.
   JACARDI supports this vision with a suite of tools developed across the Joint Action, including guidance for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating screening programmes; roadmaps for sustainability; and strategies for disease burden surveillance (via WP7). These resources reflect JACARDI’s holistic approach, linking prevention, early detection, and continuous care.
6. Workplace interventions
   CVDs and diabetes significantly impact Europe’s labour market. JACARDI addresses this challenge by promoting workplace interventions that support people living with NCDs in maintaining or returning to employment.
   Strategic recommendations include strengthening occupational health services, fostering inclusive workplace cultures, combating stigma, promoting intersectoral collaboration, and increasing awareness and research investment. By aligning employment policy with health priorities, JACARDI aims to reduce economic strain and improve quality of life.
   
   

From prevention to rehabilitation: closing the gaps

Effective care for CVD and diabetes requires integrated, person-centred pathways that span the full spectrum of need—from early detection to long-term management and reintegration into society. Reducing fragmentation, ensuring timely access to services, and addressing the needs of chronically ill individuals are essential. JACARDI is actively supporting Member States in designing and implementing more cohesive, sustainable care models—bridging current gaps and promoting resilience in national health systems.

Looking ahead: building Europe’s CVD response together

As the OECD-led analytical report continues to evolve, JACARDI remains committed to contributing to this inclusive, co-creative process. Through piloted innovations, practical tools, and sustained cross-border collaboration, the Joint Action seeks to strengthen Europe’s collective response to CVD and diabetes.

JACARDI’s contribution rests on four foundational principles:

1. Equity as structure and substance—addressing the needs of women, migrants, and other underserved groups throughout the policy cycle;
2. High-quality, harmonised, and disaggregated data—to enable effective monitoring, accountability, and action;
3. Cross-sectoral integration—connecting health with education, employment, social protection, and digital transformation;
4. Inclusive, multi-stakeholder engagement—ensuring that patients, professionals, policymakers, and civil society shape the future together.

In closing, JACARDI exemplifies what is possible when countries align around a shared vision. Through collaboration, knowledge exchange, and an unwavering commitment to inclusion, we are not only shaping better health outcomes—we are building a lasting legacy of equity, resilience, and solidarity across Europe.

“JACARDI, together with all key stakeholders, is showing what’s possible when Europe comes together with a shared purpose and vision—turning knowledge into action, and collaboration into a legacy of healthier, fairer societies for all, starting with the urgent challenge of cardiovascular diseases.”

— JACARDI Coordination Team, Benedetta Armocida and Beatrice Formenti