World Heart Day 2017
Cardiovascular disease around the world
It’s the number one killer worldwide, causing more than 17 million deaths per year. It means that 1 in every 3 deaths is caused by cardiovascular disease. Coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke are the most common.
The healthcare costs are enormous (over €700 billion annually worldwide) and the social burden due to premature deaths and reduced quality of life is tremendous.
Cardiovascular disease can affect men and women of all ages and population groups, including children. The good news is that most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by decreasing behavioral risk factors.