Cardiovascular diseases are a group of blood and heart disorders that can lead to heart attack and stroke.

#1 cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide.

1 out of 3 deaths worldwide are due to cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide cardiovascular diseases.

3 out of 4 deaths from cardiovascular diseases occur in low- and middle-income countries.

An Increasing Burden

• Low- and middle-income countries often face challenges:

• Double burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases

• Limited access to effective and equitable health care services

• Delayed detection of noncommunicable diseases and treatment

These conditions can lead to:

• Over-burdened, less resilient health systems

• High productivity losses from premature death and disability

• Strained economic development

CDC’s Response

In collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) and other global organizations, CDC provides technical support for global initiatives to improve cardiovascular health:

• The HEARTS technical package

o Supports Ministries of Health to strengthen cardiovascular disease management in primary health care settings

The REPLACE action package

o Aims to eliminate industrially produced trans-fat from the global food supply by 2023 CDC supports governments around the world to prevent and control cardiovascular diseases.

To support governments around the world to prevent and control cardiovascular diseases, CDC:

o Provides scientific, technical, and programmatic assistance

o Supports the launch and scale up of interventions

o Strengthens the epidemiological workforce

o Enhances surveillance, laboratory, and public health capacity

Global Targets

CDC’s work aligns with global targets to reduce premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases through prevention and treatment:

o WHO 13th General Programme of Work – Reduce premature mortality from NCDs by 20% by 2023

o WHO NCD Global Monitoring Framework – Reduce premature deaths from CVDs, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases by 25% by 2025

o UN Sustainable Development Goals – Reduce premature deaths from NCDs by 33% by 2030

For more information visit www.cdc.gov/globalhealth

CS296019-A

Every-Heart-Counts.pdf

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection