Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, remain the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in Europe despite being largely preventable through earlier detection and timely intervention. COCIR strongly supports the development of an EU Protocol for Cardiovascular Health Checks under the Safe Hearts Plan. The Protocol should establish a common framework for prevention and early detection while allowing flexibility for national implementation.
To maximise its impact, the Protocol should move beyond a narrow focus on blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol measurements and adopt a comprehensive, life-course approach to cardiovascular health. Medical technologies, including advanced diagnostics, imaging, digital health solutions and AI-enabled tools, should be explicitly integrated into the framework to improve risk identification, facilitate targeted screening and ensure continuity of care.