The European Heart Network (EHN) welcomes the Swedish Government’s announcement of a forthcoming National Action Plan for Heart Health, a development that marks a significant step towards strengthened cardiovascular prevention, treatment and patient meaningful engagement in Sweden. Cardiovascular diseases are Sweden’s most common cause of death and affect approximately one in five people.
Announced on 21 November by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, the plan will be developed by the National Board of Health and Welfare and is intended to cover the full spectrum of cardiovascular care: equitable prevention, early detection, precision treatment, rehabilitation, enhanced follow-up and patient-reported outcomes.
EHN warmly acknowledges the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation and the Swedish Heart and Lung Association, both long-standing EHN members, as well as the Swedish Society of Cardiology, whose years of dedicated advocacy have contributed to making this milestone possible.
“We welcome the announcement that a national cardiovascular plan will now be developed, and we look forward to actively contributing to this work. With the right measures, we can both prevent disease and improve the quality of life for those affected.” — Kristina Sparreljung, Secretary General, Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation
“We welcome the announcement that a national cardiovascular plan will now be developed, and we look forward to actively contributing to this work. With the right measures, we can both prevent disease and improve the quality of life for those affected.”
— Kristina Sparreljung, Secretary General, Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation
The new plan is explicitly connected to the EU Council Conclusions on Cardiovascular Health (2024) and refers to international recommendations from the World Heart Federation. Its timeline, with implementation planning due in May 2026 and a final report in 2028, positions Sweden as an early mover in light of the forthcoming EU Cardiovascular Health Plan expected in December 2025, as well as ongoing discussions at EU level on how best to encourage and guide national cardiovascular health initiatives.
While the initiative is highly welcome, EHN joins the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) in expressing concern that the national action plan is framed exclusively around “heart health” and does not mention stroke.
Stroke constitutes a major pillar of cardiovascular disease. It is one of the leading causes of death in Europe and the primary cause of long-term disability, contributing enormously to the overall burden of CVD across the region. Heart disease and stroke share common risk factors, pathways, and opportunities for prevention and integrated care. According to Sweden’s own national statistics, stroke affects more people each year than acute myocardial infarction.
The European Heart Network is firmly committed to national and European strategies that address cardiovascular disease in its entirety, uniting heart and stroke within a single, coherent framework. EHN therefore endorses the ESO Joint Response, calling on the Swedish authorities to ensure that stroke is fully integrated into the national plan, in line with the Stroke Action Plan for Europe (SAP-E), WHO guidance and wider EU and UN frameworks for non-communicable disease prevention and care.