JACARDI is the Joint Action of the European Union that supports European countries in reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, at both individual and health system levels.
Projects overview
Life expectancy in EU countries has increased significantly in recent decades. However, longer lives do not always mean healthier lives.
In the EU, approximately 1 in 6 adults live with cardiovascular diseases, and the number of people with diabetes mellitus has almost doubled in the last decade, affecting nearly 1 in 10 adults.
JACARDI, the Joint Action on CARdiovascular diseases and Diabetes, emerged from this need to help European countries reduce the burden of chronic diseases. The project carries out of 142 tailor-made pilot projects in public and clinical settings, based on proven practices for the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
JACARDI runs from November 2023 to October 2027 and involves partners from 21 European countries, representing a wide diversity of cultural backgrounds, lifestyles and health system structures.
The project is part of the European Commission’s Healthier Together EU Non-Communicable Diseases Initiative and is scientifically supported by the WHO, as well as other European and international scientific organizations. JACARDI is built on the experiences of previous joint actions, including CHRODIS, CHRODIS Plus, Best-ReMaP, JAHEE, JADECARE, CARE4DIABETES, STOP, and works in close cooperation with the ongoing joint action PreventNCD.
Mission and objectives
JACARDI aims to enhance the quality of care for people affected by cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in Europe. While there has been an improvement in this field, there is still potential for growth in health promotion, prevention, diagnosis and management of these diseases. Additionally, there are significant differences in the prevalence and mortality of cardiovascular disease and diabetes between social groups, regions and countries, pointing to large inequalities across Europe.
JACARDI addresses these inequalities by approaching complex health challenges inclusively, with a focus on social and commercial determinants of health, cultural diversity, and equity. The project advocates for a collaborative and inclusive governance model that empowers younger generations and fosters healthier, more resilient, and fair communities for millions of Europeans.
The results of the pilot projects serve as case studies that can be scaled up and extensively used across countries. JACARDI thus has a strong policy relevance, helping EU countries to implement evidence-based policies and measures for the effective prevention and management of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
The project involves:
- Healthy people
- People at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes
- Individuals with a diagnosis
- People at risk of disease progression and developing multiple illnesses