JACARDI as a proof-of-concept for Europe’s Safe Hearts Plan

A new commentary in the International Journal of Public Health explores how JACARDI supports the translation of Europe’s Safe Hearts Plan into practical implementation. Activities conducted across JACARDI’s portfolio of over 140 pilots are generating practical implementation evidence on how public health strategies can be translated into practical action to prevent cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The authors argue that coordinated, life course-based approaches, combining prevention, early detection and integrated care, are essential to reduce the burden of these conditions across Europe.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of premature mortality and disability in the European Union. The article, by lead author Benedetta Armocida and other contributors from the joint action, highlights that the main challenge is not the lack of strategies, but how to implement them effectively and equitably across different health systems.

The article presents JACARDI as a proof-of-concept for implementing the EU Safe Hearts Plan. A key message is that cardiovascular disease and diabetes should be addressed together using a life course approach, recognising that risk factors build up over time. Early actions, such as health literacy programmes for children and young people, can support long-term health outcomes.

Linking detection, care and everyday support

The authors highlight that screening is effective only when it is connected to follow-up care. JACARDI pilots test different approaches, including community-based screening, mobile units and digital tools linked to lifestyle support.

The commentary also emphasises integrated care and self-management. Pilot interventions like a co-designed mobile application to optimize secondary prevention in Madrid and care pathways co-developed with patients and caregivers in the Basque Country demonstrate that digital and telemedicine solutions can support continuity of care and help people manage their condition in everyday life.

Equity and data as key priorities

The article underlines the importance of strong data systems and a focus on equity. Shared data models enable better monitoring of health outcomes and differences between population groups. Inclusive, targeted approaches are needed to ensure that prevention and care reach everyone.

Overall, the commentary highlights that JACARDI provides a practical model for turning policy into action. The authors conclude that combining a life course approach, integrated care and equity-focused implementation can support long-term improvements in cardiovascular health across Europe.

Publication: Closing the implementation gap: the Joint Action on Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes (JACARDI) as a proof-of-concept for Europe’s Safe Hearts Plan

Authors: Benedetta Armocida et al. (on behalf of the JACARDI Implementation Board)

Journal: International Journal of Public Health

Publication date: 15 June 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2026.1609906

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

JACARDI featured on Italian national TV: free health screenings raise awareness on diabetes and cardiovascular risks

JACARDI was recently featured on RAI, Italy’s national public broadcaster, highlighting a free public screening campaign aimed at the early detection of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This broadcast was filmed during a high-profile event in Reggio Calabria tied to the arrival of the Italian Navy’s historic ship Amerigo Vespucci, and it brought national attention to a simple yet powerful tool for screening and prevention: online self-assessment accessible through a QR code.

The JACARDI project, in collaboration with the ASP (Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale, Local Health Authority) of Reggio Calabria, was able to engage with citizens by making them scan a QR code with their smartphone and receive information about preventive health measures. People answered simple questions and received useful lifestyle tips, and those showing health concerns were flagged for follow-up, providing an immediate and accessible method for early diagnosis.

During the broadcast, several key figures were interviewed, including Dr. Lucia Di Furia, Director General of ASP Reggio Calabria, who suggested that prevention begins with daily awareness. Along with Dr. Ernesto Giordano, an endocrinologist and project manager on childhood obesity prevention, Di Furia highlighted how important it is to educate children on food habits to prevent future health issues.

This initiative exemplifies how JACARDI, as part of a broader EU Joint Action, is transforming prevention into practical action. By combining digital innovation with community outreach, the project is not only improving health literacy but also enabling early detection of conditions that often go unnoticed until it’s too late. As one of the 142 pilots under JACARDI, the ASP Reggio Calabria screening demonstrates how EU joint actions can deliver real, measurable benefits to people’s lives, fostering a culture of prevention and improved care that crosses borders and builds healthier futures for all.

The pilot in Calabria is one of 18 pilots within JACARDI’s Work Package 8, which focuses on screening and identifying individuals at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. These conditions can often be prevented or delayed through healthy lifestyle changes and better risk factor management. The pilots collect standardized data on key risk factors across European countries to support more targeted, evidence-based prevention strategies.

For the news broadcast in Italian, click here, and to watch the pilot’s promotional video, click here.