Respiratory infections like influenza, Covid-19, and RSV significantly impact CVD and increase hospital strain during seasons. Influenza vaccination alone reduces major cardiovascular events by more than a third, yet there’s a mismatch across the EU: high disease burden with low vaccination coverage. Covid-19 vaccination rates have fallen to about 10 percent in many member states. Influenza vaccination rates remain below WHO and EU targets and are declining, while RSV programs are just starting. This leads to avoidable exacerbations and admissions, contributing to winter hospital peaks that affect other care. Most issues can be mitigated through vaccination, a key pillar in CVD prevention per the European Society of Cardiology.
Health innovations enable early identification of CVD risk individuals, allowing preventive measures to slow or prevent disease progression.
The 2009 Council recommendation set a 75 percent target for older adults for influenza vaccination. Where this target is met, hospital pressure decreases, proving the value of EU policy tools. Europe should emulate this model to enhance cardiovascular health by updating EU vaccination targets for influenza, advancing RSV goals, and revitalizing Covid-19 efforts. Additionally, establishing ambitions for pneumococcal and shingles vaccinations for at-risk groups would reduce winter hospitalizations and direct cardiovascular health.
Prevention extends beyond vaccines. Early detection can alter chronic and autoimmune disease trajectories associated with higher CVD risk. For instance, Type 1 diabetes often leads to diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening issue, with 80 percent diagnosed after significant damage. Screening for T1D-related autoantibodies can detect the disease well before symptoms, reducing misdiagnosis and costs while allowing coordinated care.
Momentum for early T1D detection is building in Europe, driven by scientific advances and advocacy. Some member states are piloting screening approaches through the EU-funded EDENT1FI initiative, generating evidence on feasibility and benefits. The current challenge is scaling beyond pilots, with EU coordination supporting integration of early detection in national prevention strategies for sustainable implementation.
Chronic respiratory diseases often unrecognized, also contribute to CVD. Frequent COPD exacerbations are common comorbidities, and uncontrolled asthma increases CVD risk. Including these in health checks strengthens integrated prevention, combining spirometry with cardiovascular risk management and e-referrals to pulmonologists. This identifies high-risk patients with underdiagnosed COPD and asthma, ensures continuity of care, and targets CVD more precisely.
Leave a Reply