Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes: Policies for Better Health and Quality of Care

The mortality from CVD has decreased in recent decades after its peak in mid-1980s at a slightly faster pace than many other OECD countries but it is still higher than the OECD average, at 476 per 100 000 population in 2011, 59% higher than the OECD average of 299 (Figure 1). Potential years of life lost, a commonly used measure of premature mortality, at 1 079 per 100 000 population for diseases of the circulatory system in 2011, is 83% higher than the OECD average of 581 (by using the age limit of 70), suggesting that CVD-related deaths occur earlier in life than in many other OECD countries. The reported prevalence of diabetes is 9.2%, higher than the OECD average of 6.9%, and early onset of diabetes is more prevalent than elsewhere (12.2% for people aged 40-59 and 3.7% for people aged 20-39, compared to an OECD average of 8.9% and 1.7%, respectively). Early onset has important implications for a patient’s health status and also for their social and economic status as young survivors of CVD events such as Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and stroke may face serious deterioration in their quality of life, leading to greater social and health care needs over longer periods of time and a reduced ability to work. People living with diabetes for longer periods of time also have higher risk of suffering complications.