European Society of Cardiology: cardiovascular disease statistics 2025.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Multinational cross-sectional and ecological epidemiological surveillance report.
PubMed 42150766 · doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehag345
What was done
The European Society of Cardiology analyzed updated cardiovascular disease (CVD) statistics for more than 50 ESC member countries using data from 2024 or the latest available year for the fifth biennial ESC Atlas report. Statistics were stratified by sex and World Bank national income status to assess CVD burden, healthcare delivery capacity, and clinical outcomes across nations.
What was found
CVD was identified as the leading cause of death across ESC member countries, accounting for more than 3 million deaths per year and 68 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Substantial disparities were observed based on national income level: middle-income countries demonstrated age-standardized CVD mortality rates roughly twice as high as high-income countries, alongside marked differences in healthcare workforce capacity and access to advanced clinical interventions.
Why it matters
This report establishes updated international benchmarks on cardiovascular disease burden and healthcare delivery disparities to support targeted health policy and resource allocation across Europe.
Limits
The findings rely on aggregate country-level epidemiological reporting rather than individual-level longitudinal data, and data collection standards or reporting years may vary across the >50 member countries. Precise country-level figures and specific intervention rates are not detailed in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and many developed nations, including European countries.