Tolerating cardiovascular health disparities is a failure of science and society

Cardiovascular disease is responsible for more than 40% of all deaths in Europe. Decades of research and investment have achieved impressive declines in overall cardiovascular disease mortality, yet this progress hides a persistent injustice: the benefits of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment have not been shared equally across different strata of populations. Avoidable inequalities in cardiovascular health continue to claim lives, undermine health and wellbeing, and limit individuals’ opportunities to lead full, productive lives, exposing deep structural flaws in our health systems and research agendas.