Each year cardiovascular disease (CVD) causes over 4.3 million deaths in
Europe and over 2.0 million deaths in the European Union (EU).CVD causes
nearly half of all deaths in Europe (48%) and in the EU (42%).CVD is the
main cause of death in women in all countries of Europe and is the main
cause of death in men in all countries except France, the Netherlands
and Spain.CVD is the main cause of the disease burden (illness and
death) in Europe (23% of all the disease burden) and the second main
cause of the disease burden in those EU countries with very low child
and adult mortality (17%).Death rates from CHD are generally higher in
Central and Eastern Europe than in Northern, Southern and Western
Europe.Death rates from stroke are higher in Central and Eastern Europe
than in Northern, Southern and Western Europe.CVD mortality, incidence,
and case fatality are falling in most Northern, Southern and Western
European Countries, but either not falling as fast or rising in Central
and Eastern European countries.Each year smoking kills over 1.2 million
people in Europe (450,000 from CVD) and about 650,000 people in the EU
(185,000 from CVD).