Cardiovascular disease (CVD) causes 49% of deaths in Europe, is the main cause of death in women on this continent and costs the European Union over 169 billion EUR a year. Getting countries to educate their population and allocating an adequate budget to preventive care and rehabilitation is therefore of the utmost importance. By the end of 2008 all European Countries will have subscribed to the European Heart Health Charter (https://www.heartcharter.eu/) and will have set up a Joint National Task Force to take the necessary actions to implement it.

The Fourth European Task Force has published Guidelines for the Prevention of CVD, which are the result of a unique consensus between experts of different specialities. These guidelines must now be translated and implemented locally, taking into consideration national, cultural and socioeconomic issues.

Schools, hospitals and policy makers are being encouraged to increase their efforts to educate people on the basics of heart disease prevention which include a balanced diet, physical activity and avoidance of tobacco. Actions which lead to the reimbursement of CVD prevention within existing health care and private insurance plans are also being encouraged by countries and organisations attending the European Summit.

Participating countries:

Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, USA.

Participating organisations:

ESC - 4th Joint Task Force on Cardiovascular Prevention in Clinical Practice
ESC - Council for Cardiology Practice
ESC - Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions
ESC - Joint European Societies CVD Prevention Committee
ESC - National Coordinator for CVD Prevention
ESC - Council on Primary Care
ESC European Affairs Committee
European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation
European Association for the Study of Diabetes
European Atherosclerosis Society
European Commission
European Heart Network
European Society of Hypertension
International Society of Behavioral Medicine
National Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation
National Cardiac Societies
National Ministries
National Representatives of the Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions
National Representatives of the European Atherosclerosis Society
National Representatives of the European Heart Network
National Representatives of the European Society of Hypertension
National Representatives of the World Health Organisation
National Representatives of WONCA (World Organisation of Family Doctors)
Presidents of National Cardiac Societies
WHO - Office for Europe
WONCA Europe

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) represents more than 50,000 cardiology professionals across Europe and the Mediterranean. Its mission is to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in Europe.

The ESC achieves this through a variety of scientific and educational activities including the coordination of: clinical practice guidelines, education courses and initiatives, pan-European surveys on specific disease areas and the ESC Annual Congress, the largest medical meeting in Europe.

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC):
The ESC represents nearly 53,000 cardiology professionals across Europe and the Mediterranean. Its mission is to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in Europe.

The ESC achieves this through a variety of scientific and educational activities including the coordination of: clinical practice guidelines, education courses and initiatives, pan-European surveys on specific disease areas and the ESC Annual Congress, the largest medical meeting in Europe. The ESC also works closely with the European Commission and WHO to improve health policy in the EU.

The ESC comprises 3 Councils, 5 Associations, 19 Working Groups, 50 National Cardiac Societies and an ESC Fellowship Community (Fellow, FESC; Nurse Fellow, NFESC). For more information on ESC Initiatives, Congresses and Constituent Bodies see www.escardio.org.

European Society of Cardiology, The European Heart House 2035 Route des Colles, B.P. 179 - Les Templiers, Sophia Antipolis F-06903 France

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