In 2019, age-standardised cardiovascular mortality rates per 100,000 were lower in West Europe than South Europe for males (279.7 vs 337.2) and females (196.2 vs 247.3).
Cardiovascular mortality rates have declined across West and South European countries since 1990, but remain higher in South Europe, highlighting the need for population-level strategies to address obesity, physical activity, and dietary factors.
Variations in cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden between West and South European countries are rarely reported. To address this knowledge gap, The Lancet Regional Health-Europe convened experts from a broad range of countries to assess the current state of knowledge of cardiovascular disease inequalities across Europe. This Review is specifically focused on West and South European countries. Mortality, risk factor and economic data for nine West European and six South European countries were sourced from the World Health Organisation, the Global Burden of Disease study and the World Bank. Healthcare data were collected by survey of participating countries. A key finding was of declines in age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) across all countries since 1990. In 2019 rates per 100,000 were lower in West European countries in males (279.7 (264.1-335.9) vs 337.2 (323.7-367.2)) and females (196.2 (183.3-228.8) vs 247.3 (232.2-268.3)). Differences in risk factor exposures were small, with the exception of physical activity and dietary factors, but across all countries the prevalence of obesity has increased, affecting >20% of adults in 2019. Healthcare delivery in 2019 showed inequalities with cardiovascular procedure rates lower in South compared with West European countries. Further declines in ASMRs in West and South European countries will require population strategies to reduce obesity and address inequalities in physical activity and dietary factors. Reducing the gap in procedure rates is unlikely to match the beneficial effects of population strategies for reducing CVD burden in South European countries.
Timmis et al. (Sun,) conducted a review in Cardiovascular disease. West European region vs. South European region was evaluated on Age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) per 100,000 in 2019. In 2019, age-standardised cardiovascular mortality rates per 100,000 were lower in West Europe than South Europe for males (279.7 vs 337.2) and females (196.2 vs 247.3).