Cardiovascular disease in Europe - statistics and facts
Referring to any diseases or disorders that affect the heart and blood vessels, cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in Europe. The most common types of CVD are coronary heart disease (which can lead to heart attacks or heart failure), strokes, and aortic disease. In 2020, CVD was responsible for over 1.8 million deaths in the European Union and the United Kingdom. Deaths due to cardiovascular issues have a significant burden across the continent but are generally higher in countries located in Eastern Europe. In 2020, 67 percent of all deaths recorded in Ukraine were caused by cardiovascular disease. Likewise, in Belarus, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania, CVD was the cause of death in over half of all fatalities. Conversely, in Denmark and the Netherlands, these deaths comprised around a fifth of casualties. DALYs (Disability-adjusted life years) due to cardiovascular disease were also found to be highest in particular in Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Georgia.
