A new report on structural heart disease published by the International Longevity Centre UK (ILC) today calls for large-scale awareness campaigns, investment in earlier detection, better treatment and greater data infrastructure. Without this, it argues that the condition, which affects 14 million people across Europe, could place a significant burden on people and health systems across the region.

A little-known condition, structural heart disease (SHD) is an age-related cardiovascular disease, which has a high mortality rate if not detected and treated early on. It also decreases quality of life for those living with the condition, with severe SHD causing fatigue and shortness of breath even at rest.

ILC’s report, supported by Edwards Lifesciences, finds that:

• Across Europe, 14 million people are living with SHD.
• As a result of population ageing, this figure is set to rise to 20 million by 2040 – a 43% increase.
• The number of hospitalisations due to SHD has doubled in the last 20 years.

Most types of SHD can be successfully treated, reducing hospitalisations by up to 50%. However, the report argues that low levels of awareness, pervasive ageism and a lack of regular heart checks are acting as significant barriers to early detection and treatment.

• Fewer than 1 in 8 people in Europe are aware of SHD, with the lowest levels of awareness in Belgium, where just 1 in 50 have heard of the condition.
• Interviews with stakeholders revealed that many of the main symptoms of SHD, such as fatigue and breathlessness, are often dismissed as “usual” signs of ageing, meaning that people fail to seek and receive help.
• 1 in 3 Europeans aged 60 and above say their primary care physician checks their heart with a stethoscope “occasionally” – one of the main ways to detect SHD. And just over 1 in 4 have their heart checked at every visit.

With additional pressures placed on healthcare systems across Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic, ILC – the UK’s specialist think tank on the impact of longevity on society, – argues it is high time to address the “silent epidemic” of structural heart disease.

ILC call for governments to launch awareness campaigns to better educate the general public and healthcare professionals around the condition, to dispel ageist stereotypes that are preventing many from seeking treatment, to invest in earlier detection and treatment and to better use technology and data to understand who is most at risk.

Arun Himawan, Research Fellow at ILC and report author argued:

“Structural heart disease has, for too long, been overlooked, with many older adults receiving suboptimal early detection and timely treatment. It is a growing silent epidemic.”

“Without swift action, structural heart disease will pose an even greater health and economic burden on society than it already does. The EU, national governments, healthcare systems and individuals all have a role to play in improving the detection and treatment of structural heart disease.”

Professor Paolo Magni, Professor of Pathology at Università degli Studi di Milano added:

“We can’t afford to not act on structural heart disease.”

“This timely report highlights that much more still needs to be done to ensure early prevention, diagnosis, and treatment including increasing awareness of the disease by both individuals and healthcare professionals, issuing regular heart checks, and ensuring greater commitment to tackling structural heart disease at both the national and European level. We must also address head on the ageism that prevents older people from getting the right care they need.”

Notes

For press queries or to request an embargoed copy of the report, please contact press@ilcuk.org.uk or +44 (0) 208 638 0832.

Spokespeople are available for interview.

The report, “The invisible epidemic: Rethinking the detection and treatment of structural heart disease in Europe” is available here.

This project has been supported by Edwards Lifesciences.