Towards a Cardiovascular Health Plan: evidence from JACARDI CVDs health literacy policy survey

Abstract Introduction Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality in the European Union (EU). In response, the EU-27 Ministers of Health adopted the Council Conclusions on improving cardiovascular health, and the European Commission is developing a dedicated EU Cardiovascular Health Plan (CVH Plan). Health literacy has been recognised as a key lever for prevention, early detection, and secondary risk reduction. The Joint Action on cardiovascular diseases and diabetes (JACARDI), under the EU4Health programme, supports these goals by advancing evidence-based strategies to reduce the burden of CVDs. Methods JACARDI conducted a self-reported structured survey in 32 EU-countries to map existing national policies and strategies for CVDs prevention and management, with a focus on health literacy. Key dimensions explored included governance, legal frameworks, intersectoral approaches, and financing. Results Overall, 21 European countries responded, revealing diverse implementation. While 10 countries report the presence of national legislation related to health literacy, only 4 of them address CVD specifically. Strategic plans exist in 10 countries, yet they are fully implemented and evaluated in only 3 of them. Only 12 countries report dedicated funding. Despite ongoing awareness campaigns and professional training, integration into national systems remains limited due to funding constrains. Conclusions Few countries have established robust policies related to health literacy, laying a foundation for progress towards equity in CVD-related outcomes across Europe. In line with the Council Conclusions, JACARDI's evidence supports the need for sustained and strategically allocated wide system investment alongside well-coordinated national strategies to improve population health literacy. Taking concrete measures to improve health literacy is essential to advancing prevention, risk reduction, and secondary care to achieve the objectives of the EU CVH Plan. Key messages • Health literacy is a critical lever for improving CVD health outcomes across the span of prevention, early detection, and secondary risk reduction. It empowers individuals to take proactive steps. • JACARDI by identifying and promoting evidence-based strategies supports long-term investment in health literacy to advance CVD prevention and meets the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan goals.