About: Chronic disease
New EU Commission should take on rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases
The new European Commission should tackle "head-on" rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, the president of the European League Against Rheumatism (Eular) told EURACTIV in an interview, referring to chronic diseases that affect one-quarter of all Europeans, creating healthcare and social security costs.
Andriukaitis: National health systems need ‘fundamental reform’
EU countries could save money and lives by increasing investment in disease prevention and health promotion, the European Commission said on Thursday (23 November), stressing that good health policy requires political will across all sectors.
EU regions call for better integration of healthcare systems
The Committee of the Regions on Wednesday (22 March) made the case for better integration between the EU’s healthcare systems, to close “inequalities” between member states and ensure that “everyone has access to healthcare”. EURACTIV Spain reports.
Counting the cost of cardiovascular disease
Death from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) may have fallen substantially in the UK and across the world, but it remains the single biggest killer, and a sizeable economic burden.
Diabetes expert: Urgent need for education ‘at every level’
There is a great need to raise awareness and enhance education on diabetes and a healthier lifestyle “at every level”, Stella de Sabata, head of the International Diabetes Federation, told EURACTIV.com.
E-health and the ‘fine line’ of big data
The introduction of digital technology in healthcare systems might be viewed by health stakeholders in a positive light. However, policymakers are yet to address issues related to data collection and use that are considered crucial in the management of chronic conditions like diabetes.
E-health should not exacerbate existing inequalities, NGO warns
Efforts to digitalise healthcare for chronic disease patients – including those suffering from diabetes – are helpful, according to the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA). But the move towards digitalisation should not exacerbate existing health inequalities, it warns.
Andriukaitis: E-health can empower patients to manage diabetes
The right eHealth tools will help healthcare systems adjust to the alarming rise of diabetes and patients to effectively monitor the development of their disease, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis said in an interview with EURACTIV.com.
Medical community alarmed by global rise in diabetes cases
The rise of diabetes is causing avoidable deaths and imposing substantial costs on ailing healthcare systems. Alarmed, lawmakers are attempting to improve prevention and get the emerging pandemic under control.
EU citizens enjoy longer lives, but not health equality
Europeans live almost 7 years more compared to 1990, but this does not necessarily mean that these years are healthy, a new report has found.
People with dementia: ‘We can still contribute to this society’
Europe needs a strategy to tackle dementia, two persons suffering from the disease told EURACTIV.com, stressing that they have a role to play in research and society in general.
Denmark aims to become ‘dementia-friendly nation’ by 2025
Denmark has put forward a national plan aimed at making the country dementia-friendly by 2025, Minister of Health Sophie Loehde told EURACTIV.com in Copenhagen.
Alzheimer Europe chief: Holistic approach needed to tackle dementia
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia remain underdiagnosed in most European countries, Jean Georges told EURACTIV.
Rising dementia numbers in EU causes alarm
The European Union is stepping up efforts to combat dementia, but is being urged to do more, as 18.7 million EU citizens are expected to suffer from the illness by 2050.
Diabetes: A silent killer that hurts the world’s poorest
Diabetes is on the rise, both in Europe and worldwide. In Nicaragua, 600,000 people, more than 12% of the population, are affected by the chronic disease. EURACTIV's partner El País - Planeta Futuro reports.
WHO calls on private sector to finance costs of chronic diseases
SPECIAL REPORT / As the economic burden of chronic diseases continues to grow in Europe, the private sector - including pharmaceutical and insurance companies - needs to contribute more, says the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Britain sees surge in diabetes
New figures show that the number of persons living with diabetes in the UK has risen by 1.2 million in just one decade. VideoPromoted content
Cardiovascular Diseases: Cholesterol – What Impact for Europe?
Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases are responsible for 86% of all deaths in Europe, siphoning off 70% to 80% of healthcare budgets – an estimated €700 billion per year. During the 2014 EU Summit on Chronic Diseases, the European Commission identified key actions to tackle those. The initiative was taken in response to a call by the United Nations to reduce Non Communicable Diseases by 25% by 2025. So-called “bad” cholesterol increases the risks of heart diseases and stroke. According to the WHO, globally, a third of ischaemic heart disease is attributable to high cholesterol.
Chronic diseases threaten Europe’s competitiveness
In Europe, millions of people suffer daily from chronic respiratory diseases, like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which keep them from leading active professional lives.
France launches nationwide public health study
The French government has given the go ahead for a wide study of public health, which will complement the European Health Examination Survey. EURACTIV France reports. VideoPromoted content
EU Summit on Chronic Diseases 2014
This first EU summit on chronic diseases discussed medical, social and economic benefits of sustainable investments in health, ways to reduce the burden of chronic diseases, and how to strengthen the prevention and management of chronic diseases, with a focus on EU added value and action.
Experts mull ways to reverse chronic diseases trend
SPECIAL REPORT / Cancer, diabetes, mental disorders, and chronic respiratory illnesses account for 86% of deaths, and 77% of the disease burden in Europe, with the main risk factors being tobacco use, alcohol abuse, poor diets and lack of physical activity.
Danish health minister: Patient empowerment key to fight diabetes
Education and prevention will feature among the key tools to fight diabetes in the coming years, says Nick Hækkerup.