"Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment" (1) clearly demonstrates the full extent of the global burden of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes and says global action to prevent chronic diseases could save the lives of 36 million people who would otherwise be dead by 2015.

The ESC strongly supports the report and its findings as cardiovascular disease (CVD), in its own, accounts for nearly half of all deaths in Europe (49%) and in the European Union (EU) (42%). (2)

In a mission to decrease these alarming figures, the ESC is eager to reinforce the message that the global epidemic of chronic diseases can only be stopped through concerted action. Professor Tendera, ESC President, states, "Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Europe, and what's worse is that many cardiovascular diseases can be prevented or at least delayed."

Empowered with this perspective, the ESC has been calling to reunite forces in order to fight this battle in a joint effort. Professor Tendera stresses, "The prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease should be major priorities on both the national and pan-European level. The mission of the ESC is to 'improve the quality of life of the European population by reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease'. To achieve this mission, we have called upon both medical and political institutions to establish a consensus across Europe regarding cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment."

The ESC is therefore proud to report that the medical community has actually managed to reach such common strive and consensus over the past few years through alliances such as the Third Joint European Societies' Task Force on CVD
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Contact: Gina Dellios
gdellios@escardio.org
33-492-948-664
European Society of Cardiology
7-Oct-2005