According to Prof. Fausto Pinto, President of the European Society of Cardiology, many people in Europe are dying of heart disease, prematurely and unnecessarily. He feels that this is a massive tragedy that could easily be avoided.
The results revealed by new mortality data show that a total of 184,000 fatal heart attacks and 94,000 fatal strokes that occurred in Europe in 2013 could be considered premature and could have been avoided. In other words, nearly 48 percent of preventable deaths occurred in people under the age of 75. The results have been provided by Eurostat, the national statistical office of the European Union. It is currently the most recent evidence that shows people in Europe are not getting timely and effective care.
“We know how to save lives,” said Prof. Pinto. “Part of the problem is lack of proper investment in cardiovascular health care and management of that funding. This limits medical professionals’ access to new devices and procedures, which in the long term, give people more full and active lives and ultimately are less costly in the future.
The ESC President said that insufficient funds for training and education are another major issue. “Too many hospitals and clinics lack the number of medical staff required to provide great cardiac care,” he added. “The recent mortality data should serve as a wakeup call for governments and hospitals.
“Cardiovascular disease needs to be made number one priority by policy makers for both prevention and treatment, so that many lives can be saved.”
Source: ESC
Image Credit: Pixabay
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Heart Attacks, Europe, Prof. Fausto Pinto, heart disease, heart attack, strokes, cardiac care, mortality
Many people in Europe are dying of heart disease, prematurely and unnecessarily. This is a massive tradegy that could easily be avoided.
