Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading public health challenge in the EU, despite major advances in prevention and treatment. They cause 1.7 million deaths each year, and the economic burden exceeds EUR 282 billion annually, including EUR 47 billion in lost productivity. Yet nearly 80% of cardiovascular diseases are preventable. In response, the European Commission adopted the Safe Hearts Plan in December 2025 to support Member States in strengthening action across three pillars: (1) health promotion and disease prevention; (2) early detection and screening; and (3) treatment, care and rehabilitation. Cross-cutting priorities such as digitalisation, data, research and innovation, and reducing health inequalities are embedded throughout the Plan. Early detection of cardiovascular diseases enables timely diagnosis, opportunities for prevention and treatment, helping to reduce complications, disability and premature morbidity and death. As Member States face many common challenges, EU-level cooperation can deliver clear added value through shared solutions, exchange of best practices, and stronger evidence generation. An EU approach on health checks can support Member States in developing evidence-based, targeted and effective ways to step up cardiovascular screening. This can contribute to reducing inequalities within and between countries, population groups and regions by addressing key risk factors and the overall burden of cardiovascular diseases. This roundtable will bring together leading experts to discuss early detection and screening under the Safe Hearts Plan, with a focus on the design and implementation of health checks for cardiovascular diseases across Member States.
Key messages
• Explore how EU level action can support Member States in ensuring design and implementation of health checks, and how digital tools, data and research can be leveraged to maximise impact.
• Successful design and implementation require collaboration, targeted outreach to high-risk groups, and effective use of data and digital tools.
Speakers/Panellists
Graziano Onder
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
Katherine De Bienassis
OECD, Paris, France