Brussels, 09/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 10 September in Brussels, EU Commissioner for Health Androulla Vassiliou, Director General of DG SANCO Robert Madelin, the president of the European Heart Network (EHN) Peter Hollins, and Francesca Racioppi (WTO) will be taking part in the conference, organised by the European Heart Network and the European Society of Cardiology, “Combating Heart Disease and Stroke: Planning for a Healthier Europe”. As indicated in the title, this conference intends to identify efforts made at prevention and improving patient care with the goal of reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in Europe. A study carried out in 16 European countries revealed significant disparities between countries in terms of deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and preventative measures. The highest rates for men over 65 were in Hungary (105 out of 100,000), Estonia (104), Slovakia (74), Greece (50), Finland (48) and the United Kingdom (44). Among women aged over 65, the highest rates were in Hungary (28), Estonia (20), Slovakia (19), the United Kingdom (11), Greece (10) and Belgium (9). The lowest rates for men over 65 were in France (17), Netherlands (22), Italy (25) and Norway (27). For women in this age group, Iceland (3), France (3), Slovenia (5) and Italy (5). The study confirms similarities between high mortality rates and the prevalence of risk factors, particularly large numbers of smokers, in Greece (46%), Estonia (42%), Slovakia (41%), Germany (37%) and Hungary (37%). The ban on smoking in public places led to significant reductions in the number of emergency admissions for heart attacks: 15% fewer in France over a year. Prevention methods and emergency services resources vary considerably in the different countries and contribute to the disparities illustrated. Cardiovascular disease is responsible for 2 million deaths a year in EU member states and has an estimated annual cost of €192bn. (O.J./transl.rh)