Four measures could prevent thousands of heart-related deaths in Germany

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in this country. These include heart attacks, heart failure and atrial fibrillation. The number of deaths as a result of cardiovascular disease is even increasing steadily. This worrying trend is shown in the current German Heart Report. It provides insights into the data from 2022: 358,219 deaths were documented in Germany this year. By comparison, significantly fewer people died of cancer in the same year, namely 231,500 people.

The heart report shows that the upward trend of recent years is continuing. More and more people are dying from cardiovascular disease:

• 331,211 People per year 2019
• 338,001 People per year 2020
• 340,619 People per year 2021
• 358,219 People per year 2022

“There is not really much happening to improve the situation of dying,” criticized Thomas Voigtländer, Chairman of the German Heart Foundation, on Tuesday at the presentation of the heart report in Berlin. The heart experts present on this day also raised the question of how the trend can be counteracted – and named four important measures.

1. Better prevention

Cardiovascular diseases are predominantly a problem of old age. The older the population becomes, the higher the number of cases. “We must work towards preventing such diseases from occurring in the first place through preventive measures,” emphasises Stephan Baldus, President of the German Society of Cardiology, who is joining via video.

The new Healthy Heart Act by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach is an important step in the right direction, says Eike Langheim from the German Society for Prevention and Rehabilitation of Cardiovascular Diseases. The law stipulates that children and young people will in future be entitled to extended services for the early detection of lipid metabolism disorders. This is intended to identify and treat children with familial hypercholesterolemia in particular. This congenital disease means a very high risk of cardiovascular disease even in young adulthood.

2. Create alternatives to hospitals

Health Minister Lauterbach’s controversial hospital reform is likely to reduce the number of hospitals and create more large clinics. This will hit people with cardiovascular diseases particularly hard, fears Thomas Voigtländer of the German Heart Foundation, because they make up the majority of patients.

Heart failure was the most common reason for hospital admission in 2022. Around four million citizens are affected by heart failure, also known in professional circles as heart insufficiency. 446,000 of them were treated as inpatients in 2022. In the future, the question will be: “Where will these patients be cared for?” Can they be cared for in other ways?”

“It is important that we improve our outpatient structures,” says cardiologist Stephan Baldus. “Hospitals, cardiologists and family doctors need to network more.”

“It is also important to encourage patients to undergo rehabilitation,” stresses Eike Langheim. “Only every eighth to tenth patient goes to rehabilitation after their hospital stay.” But it is a crucial factor in preventing future hospital stays.

3. Better care for ACHD patients

Every year, around 8,500 babies are born with a congenital heart defect. Thanks to modern surgical methods, more and more of them are surviving. Around 90 percent of these children reach adulthood – significantly more than before. As a result, the group of those who are susceptible to a variety of heart problems is growing. Around 40 percent of those affected develop heart failure 20 years after their heart surgery. The experts agreed in Berlin on Tuesday: To date, these so-called EMAH patients (adults with congenital heart defects) have not received optimal care.

Further studies are important here as in all other areas of cardiac medicine. “We must initiate research activities so that we can become even better at understanding and preventing diseases, similar to what cancer medicine is already doing successfully,” says Baldus.

4. Promote a healthy lifestyle

In addition, further measures are needed that take place outside of clinics and doctor’s offices, says Eike Langheim. For example, a staggered VAT rate for food depending on how healthy or unhealthy it is to support informed purchasing decisions. For example, energy drinks, which are proven to be harmful to health, could be taxed more heavily than a cucumber, suggests Langheim.

According to the German Heart Foundation, everyone can help protect their heart. The foundation lists the following measures:

1. Reduce stress!
2. Get enough exercise, ideally by walking, cycling, jogging or swimming!
3. Eat a balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetables as well as whole grain products and little meat!
4. Don’t smoke!
5. Enjoy alcohol!
6. Pay attention to your blood pressure!
7. Avoid or reduce excess weight and belly fat!
8. Have a check-up with your doctor for early detection of cardiovascular diseases!

Click here to access the complete German Heart Report 2024.