“Heart Matters” – Putting Patients at the Centre of Cardiovascular Care

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death globally, affecting millions of lives each year. February is recognised as Heart Health Month, a time to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease, promote early detection, and highlight the importance of comprehensive, patient-centred care.

Every Heart Has a Story

Heart disease is more than a medical diagnosis. It affects lives through fear, uncertainty, pain, resilience, and hope. EFIC recognises that chronic pain and discomfort are common among people with cardiovascular conditions, including those recovering from heart attacks, cardiac surgery, or living with heart failure. Addressing pain effectively is essential—not only for quality of life, but also for long-term cardiovascular outcomes.

Cardiovascular Pain: An Overlooked Burden

Pain can complicate recovery, delay rehabilitation, and significantly affect daily living for heart patients. EFIC supports initiatives across Europe to ensure that people with cardiovascular disease receive timely, evidence-based pain care, including:

The Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) Platform, which advocates for EU and national policies that recognise and address cardiovascular-related pain
Resources and guidance for healthcare professionals, supporting the integration of pain management into cardiovascular care pathways

SIP Calls for Stronger Integration of Pain in the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan

In October 2025, the SIP Platform welcomed the European Commission’s initiative to develop an EU Cardiovascular Health Plan, recognizing it as a key step in strengthening Europe’s response to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). To maximise the plan’s impact, SIP called for a more comprehensive and people-centred approach that explicitly recognises chronic pain as both a major NCD burden and a determinant of cardiovascular health.

Chronic pain affects over 150 million people in Europe and generates societal costs equivalent to 3–4% of GDP. Beyond its economic and social impact, growing evidence highlights a clear link between chronic pain and cardiovascular risk. A recent meta-analysis shows that people living with chronic musculoskeletal pain are nearly twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease compared with those without chronic pain.

To ensure the Cardiovascular Health Plan delivers meaningful and sustainable outcomes, SIP urged the European Commission to:

Recognise chronic pain as a core component of Europe’s NCD and cardiovascular disease burden.
Invest in research on the links between pain and cardiovascular health, including shared risk factors and co-management approaches.
Promote integrated prevention strategies that address both pain and cardiovascular risk.
Support the inclusion of pain prevention and management within primary care and community health settings.

Integrating pain prevention and management into the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan is essential for building a preventive, resilient, and truly people-centred European health system. If you wish to learn more about the topic, please read the position paper here.

Join Us and Take Action

Every cardiovascular journey is unique. EFIC encourages healthcare professionals, patients, and communities to:

Recognise and address pain and discomfort in people with heart disease
Support patient-centred care that treats the person, not just the condition
Share experiences and insights to raise awareness of cardiovascular health and pain management

EFIC will continue to highlight the long-term burden of pain across cardiovascular disease and other major health conditions. Together, we can put patients first and improve outcomes across Europe.