The rate of deaths linked to cardiovascular conditions has fallen by 46% since 2003, figures from the European Heart Network reveal.
However, the report shows that heart disease is still biggest single cause of death in the UK. It accounts for approximately 70,000 deaths each year in the UK. The report also shows that more people are being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. In 2015 in the UK there were 622,716 new cases of cardiovascular disease, up from 598,783 in 2010.
‘This analysis is a powerful reminder that cardiovascular disease still kills more people in the UK than any other disease group, despite the advances we've made in preventing and treating heart conditions through medical research,’ said Simon Gillespie, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation.
The report also state that the ageing population combined with an increase in demand for cardiovascular healthcare is causing severe financial pressures for the NHS. Cardiovascular disease is estimated to cost the NHS nearly £10 billion each year.
‘Nearly half of all deaths in Europe each year are caused by cardiovascular diseases,' added Mr Gillespie. 'This shows the urgent need to fund more research towards faster, more accurate diagnosis and treatments, alongside work to help prevent people developing heart and circulatory diseases in the first place.’