Kort Nieuws

Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for women in Europe, and more women die from CVD than from all cancers combined, women - and many of their physicians - remain largely unaware of their risk of developing CVD. Importantly, this is a risk which increases dramatically with age.

Women's risk of CVD was the theme of a meeting today (27 April) of the MEP Heart Group, reuniting MEPs aiming to promote measures to lower the incidence of CVD in Europe and raise its prevention and treatment higher up the EU political agenda. There are currently 50 MEP members of the group - one of the largest health forums in the European Parliament - and they are led by two co-chairs, Linda McAvan MEP (S&D - UK) and Dirk Sterckx MEP (ALDE - BE), who each spoke at the meeting. Eva-Britt Svensson MEP (GUE/NGL - SW), Chair of the Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) Committee, also addressed the meeting on the role of the European Parliament in the promotion of women's health.