SIP calls for stronger integration of chronic pain in the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan!
The Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) Platform welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to develop a Cardiovascular Health Plan, recognising it as an important step toward strengthening Europe’s response to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, SIP urges the Commission to adopt a more comprehensive approach that also recognises chronic pain as both a major NCD burden and a determinant of cardiovascular outcomes.
Chronic pain is the most common health condition in Europe, affecting more than 150 million people and accounting for 3–4% of GDP in societal costs. Beyond its economic and social impact, growing evidence links chronic pain directly to cardiovascular risk. A recent meta-analysis showed that individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain are almost twice as likely to have cardiovascular disease compared with those without chronic pain.
In its submission to the Commission, SIP calls for the Cardiovascular Health Plan to:
- Recognise chronic pain as a key component of the NCD and cardiovascular burden in Europe;
- Invest in research exploring the links between chronic pain and cardiovascular health, including shared risk factors and co-management strategies;
- Encourage Member States to develop integrated prevention programmes addressing both pain and cardiovascular risk;
- Support the inclusion of pain prevention and management within primary care and community health frameworks.
By integrating pain prevention and management into the Cardiovascular Health Plan, the European Union can take an essential step toward a people-centred, preventive, and resilient health system. SIP looks forward to continued collaboration with the European Commission and partners across the health community to advance this shared agenda.
Read SIP’s Position Paper here