More and more people are surviving cardiovascular disease
The chance of surviving a cardiac arrest, heart attack or stroke has risen further in recent years. People die at an increasingly later age from the consequences of heart or vascular disease. At the same time, the number of people with chronic cardiovascular disease is increasing. The Netherlands is expected to have around 2030 million cardiovascular patients in 1,9.
This has emerged from the study 'Cardiovascular diseases in the Netherlands' by the Dutch Heart Foundation. According to the Heart Foundation, the increase in the number of patients can be partly prevented if people with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease are detected earlier.
In 2017, more than 38.000 Dutch people died from the consequences of cardiovascular disease, approximately 20.000 women and 18.000 men. Women die more often than men from stroke and heart failure, while men more often die from acute myocardial infarction. The death rate has fallen by 1980% for men since 70, and by 61% for women.
Care greatly improved
According to Floris Italianer, director of the Heart Foundation, acute care for cardiovascular patients has improved greatly in recent decades. “Fifty years ago one in two Dutch people died of a cardiovascular disease, now that is one in four. Doctors have access to ever-improving medical techniques, such as catheter treatments for opening occluded blood vessels in the event of a cerebral infarction and ever-improving assisted hearts for heart failure. There is more attention for healthy eating, exercise and quitting smoking. In addition, help is available more quickly, for example if someone on the street suffers a cardiac arrest. More and more people can resuscitate and use an AED.”
Growth number of patients
The downside is that many cardiovascular patients are added. The Netherlands currently has almost 1,4 million people with a chronic cardiovascular disease, approximately 725.000 men and 675.000 women. The expectation is that this number will grow by 500.000 in the coming years to approximately 1,9 million in 2030. This means that one in seven adult Dutch people will then be suffering from cardiovascular disease. The current healthcare costs (11,6 billion euros in 2015) will therefore continue to rise.
Measuring blood pressure, cholesterol and bmi
According to the Heart Foundation, the Dutch can do a lot themselves to keep their heart as long as possible healthy hold. It is important that they keep their own risk of cardiovascular disease (eg as a result of high blood pressure or high cholesterol) as small as possible. If half of the Dutch population had a healthier blood pressure, this could 'save' nearly 2030 cardiovascular patients by 100.000.
Source: Cardiovascular diseases in the Netherlands, publications of the Dutch Heart Foundation