Cardiovascular diseases in Croatia: Why do we need a cardiovascular diseases national plan?

A cost-effectiveness evaluation of a high-sensitivity troponin I guided voluntary cardiovascular risk assessment program for asymptomatic women in Croatia

“…Statistical significance cannot be clearly demonstrated, and the difference can be due to a very small number of cases for patients in the hsTnI risk category ( Table S8 ). This could be supported by reports that mortality from CVD differs between regions in Croatia but are slightly below the national average in Zagreb [ 4 ]. Nevertheless, a real difference in risk between the participating women and the national average cannot be excluded: The WHP was a voluntary program and women provided information in a self-reported survey prior the first laboratory test, and the accuracy and quality of cohort characteristics could not be assessed.…”

“…The total economic burden of CVD in the EU was estimated to €210 billion in 2015 with 53% and 21% accounted for by direct medical costs and productivity losses [ 2 ]. In Croatia, although mortality from CVD has decreased over the last decade, CVD remains the leading cause of death and accounts for 48% of deaths in women and 37% in men [ 3 , 4 ]. Among these, coronary artery disease (or ischemic heart disease) is responsible for more than a third of all CVD related deaths [ 4 ].…”

“…In Croatia, although mortality from CVD has decreased over the last decade, CVD remains the leading cause of death and accounts for 48% of deaths in women and 37% in men [ 3 , 4 ]. Among these, coronary artery disease (or ischemic heart disease) is responsible for more than a third of all CVD related deaths [ 4 ]. As the general mortality rate from CVD is higher in women than in men, CVD in women have received special interest in the last ten years [ 4 ].…”

“…Among these, coronary artery disease (or ischemic heart disease) is responsible for more than a third of all CVD related deaths [ 4 ]. As the general mortality rate from CVD is higher in women than in men, CVD in women have received special interest in the last ten years [ 4 ]. Due to a wide distribution of behavioral risk factors in Croatia including tobacco smoking and low physical activity, the mortality from preventable causes in Croatia is above the EU average [ 5 ].…”

“…Due to a wide distribution of behavioral risk factors in Croatia including tobacco smoking and low physical activity, the mortality from preventable causes in Croatia is above the EU average [ 5 ]. With a share of almost 13%, CVD is the most frequent reason for hospitalization in Croatia with an average length of hospital stay of 7.2 days for men and 7.8 days for women [ 4 ]. To decrease the burden of CVD, reliable tools are needed to identify persons without known CVD who are at high cardiovascular risk and to guide those persons to lifestyle modifications or preventive medication [ [6] , [7] , [8] ].…”