One in five cardiovascular deaths in the EU, preventable by improving the environment
Dear Joost de Jong,
Environmental factors, such as air pollution, extreme temperatures, and exposure to harmful chemicals, cause around one in five cardiovascular deaths in the European Union (EU) — yet, these risks can be prevented. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published today shows that environmental policies can protect millions of Europeans from heart disease and save lives.
Cardiovascular disease is the main killer in the EU: over 1.7 million people died from it in 2022 — one third of all deaths that year. Of these, key environmental factors are estimated to cause at least 18%. Also, more than 6 million new cases of cardiovascular diseases are diagnosed every year, costing Europe about EUR 282 billion, according to the EEA briefing 'Preventing cardiovascular disease through a healthy environment', published today.
