Cardiovascular diseases leading cause of death in Croatia

(Patria) - Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Croatia. Around 20,000 people die from them annually, it was warned yesterday on the occasion of the World Heart Day, with the announcement of the development of a national prevention plan and the organization of a public health campaign on September 28 in Zagreb.

- Despite medical advancements, heart and blood vessel diseases remain the leading cause of illness and death worldwide. Croatia belongs to countries with high cardiovascular risk, although we have favorable trends in the last decade - says academician Davor Miličić.

In this regard, he presented data showing that about 15 years ago, the share of cardiovascular diseases in total mortality in Croatia was around 50 percent, and now it is about 38 percent with a downward trend.

He particularly emphasized the importance of developing a comprehensive national plan to combat cardiovascular diseases, which would include prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, with an emphasis on prevention.

The director of KBC Zagreb, Ante Ćorušić, also stressed the importance of such a plan to reduce mortality from cardiovascular diseases.

- World Heart Day is being celebrated for the 25th time with the aim of encouraging the development of national cardiovascular disease prevention plans. KBC Zagreb was chosen as the partner hospital this year - points out Ćorušić.

In line with this, 14 employees of that hospital will participate on Saturday, September 28, in a public health campaign at Ban Jelačić Square from 10 AM to 1 PM.

Risk factors, blood glucose levels, total cholesterol, blood pressure, and body mass index will be determined for citizens who do not have a diagnosed cardiovascular disease.

Individuals identified with cardiovascular risk will be invited for an examination at the Clinic for Cardiology of KBC Zagreb. We hope for the largest possible turnout - said Ćorušić.

The director of the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ), Krunoslav Capak, presented data showing that more than 20 million people die from cardiovascular diseases worldwide annually, about four million in Europe, and about 20,000 in Croatia.

- These diseases can be prevented; the most important thing is public education about harmful habits that are risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases - states Capak.

He particularly emphasizes the importance of early detection of inherited or acquired biological risk factors such as high blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and obesity.

- Our goal is to detect biological risks as early as possible. Therefore, preventive health check-ups are being introduced, which will be carried out through primary healthcare, where these risks will be identified and people will be referred for further treatment - emphasizes Capak.

Ivana Portolan Paić from the Ministry of Health says that preventive health check-ups at the national level should finally be implemented in the coming months, by the beginning of 2025 at the latest.

Verica Kralj from HZJZ presented data that in 2023, 19,937 people died from cardiovascular diseases in Croatia, which is about 2,000 fewer compared to the previous two years.

Croatia has lower mortality rates than Hungary and Bulgaria, but is worse than Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and the EU average.