Laws and policies around food, physical activity and smoking are key to the prevention of cardiovascular disease, according to new European guidance.
The document was published yesterday (24 May) by the joint Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology and nine other societies.
Published in the European Heart Journal among other publications, it covers both the prevention of cardiovascular disease in individuals and populations. Deaths from cardiovascular disease "could be halved by modest risk factor reduction", it states.
Author Professor Massimo Piepoli of Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital, Piacenza, Italy, says: "The last 30 years have witnessed a decrease in deaths from cardiovascular disease, mainly due to improved treatment of heart disease, and falls in cholesterol, blood pressure and smoking."
But he adds: "This trend is partly offset by rising obesity and type 2 diabetes, and poor adherence to lifestyle changes."
Stronger laws and policies suggested by the guidance include: food manufacturers to limit portion sizes and eliminate industrially produced trans fats, higher taxes on alcoholic drinks and foods high in sugar, and for water more widely available in schools and workplaces.
To increase the population’s opportunities for physical activity, the authors call for planners to take this into account when developing new landscaping, buildings or towns, to post signs to encourage use of stairs, and to raise fuel taxes.
The authors believe smoking rates could be cut by giving electronic cigarettes the same marketing restrictions as cigarettes, by banning smoking in schools, pre-schools and child care settings, and to advise parents to be tobacco-free when children are present.
Piepoli, M. F. et al. 2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. European Heart Journal 24 May 2016; doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehw106 ehw106 [abstract]
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