Evidence in practice: international CVD prevention programmes

The Public Health England (PHE) action plan for 2017-181 outlined the scale of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) issue we face here in the UK. Affecting around 7 million people, CVD remains a significant cause of disability and death. In England, we know that it is responsible for one in four premature deaths and over a quarter of all deaths, which not only affect the individual but also their families, and impact the wider community too. Healthcare costs associated with CVD are estimated at £8.96 billion and non-healthcare costs at about £4.04 billion. 2 A recent report discusses the evidence for the success of population-based CVD prevention programmes in reducing the burden of illness for individuals and society.