In the Republic of Moldova, cardiovascular diseases for over two decades have constantly ranked first among the causes of death. 57% of all deaths caused by noncommunicable diseases are due to cardiovascular diseases. Last year, the incidence of cardiovascular diseases was 206.5 cases per 10 100 inhabitants and was higher compared to a year earlier. The data were presented by the National Public Health Agency in connection with World Heart Day that is marked on September 29, IPN reports.

This year’s World Heart Day theme is “Use Your Heart for Action”. Countries are urged to develop and support national cardiovascular diseases prevention action plans, with hypertension being the most prevalent of these diseases.

Heart attacks and strokes cause more than 85% of the deaths that are due to cardiovascular diseases, and a third of these happen prematurely, by the age of 70. Over 75% of deaths from cardiovascular diseases happen in low- and middle-income countries, which include Moldova.

The causes of cardiovascular diseases are associated with a number of behavioral risk factors, such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, alcohol abuse, physical inactivity, but also with physiological risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high serum cholesterol levels, high blood sugar, obesity, along with non-modifiable risk factors, including age, sex and genetic predisposition.