Question: Preventing stroke in Europe's ageing population  
 
According to current studies, the number of strokes in the EU could rise to 1.5 million per year by 2025. Thousands of preventable strokes leave many patients mentally and physically disabled or dead. It has been estimated that the economic burden of stroke on the European economy is a staggering EUR 38 billion per year, and this clearly stretches our healthcare systems. The economic burden this creates accounts for 2–3 % of total healthcare expenditure in the European Union.

Taking into consideration (a) increasing longevity and the growth in the proportion of older people in Europe and (b) the resulting pressure on public finances and private productivity due to mounting health expenditure,

Does the Commission intend to promote the concept of prevention and, in particular, raise awareness among the elderly population about certain health conditions, such as stroke, that can result in permanent harm and disabilities? Has the Commission taken note of the latest clinical recommendations from the European Society of Cardiology to screen every patient aged 65 years and older who attends their general practitioner by checking their pulse, followed by an ECG in cases of irregular heart rhythm? Will the Commission help raise awareness of the need for better screening in Europe?

Answer given by Mr Dalli on behalf of the Commission

The Commission has taken note of the clinical recommendations from the European Society of Cardiology. However, according to the provisions of the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union, Member States are responsible for the organisation and delivery of healthcare. The Commission has a supportive role.

To encourage the adoption of good practice in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, including strokes, the Commission is supporting the European Heart Health Charter(1), which calls for the implementation of comprehensive health strategies and policies that promote cardiovascular health and prevent cardiovascular diseases.

The Commission has also decided to launch a pilot European Innovation Partnership in the field of active and healthy ageing, as part of its EU 2020 Strategy flagship Initiative ‘Innovation Union’. Action on ageing related conditions could be addressed in this context. In addition, the Commission is currently reflecting on how to take forward the Council Conclusions on ‘innovative approaches for chronic diseases in public health and healthcare systems’, which call upon the Commission to initiate a reflection process on chronic disease engaging Member States and stakeholders.

Finally, the Commission is funding research on stroke and its prevention under the EU 7th Framework Programme for Research 2007‑13(2) through the European Stroke Network(3) and the EIS project(4). The latter intends to develop a European methodology to assess the implementation of research evidence into practice using stroke as the main research case.

(1) http://www.ehnheart.org/euroheart/european-health-charter.html
(2) http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/health/home_en.html
(3) European Stroke Network (http://www.europeanstrokenetwork.eu/).
(4) EIS project ‘Development of a European Implementation Score for measuring implementation of research into healthcare practice using vascular disease as an example’ (http://eisproject.com/).