Massive electrocardiograms can save thousands of lives every year. The virtuous case of the Running Heart, an event to promote sport and prevention.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and permanent disability in Europe, with approximately 10,000 deaths per day and a percentage of 42.5% of deaths directly or indirectly attributable to a pathology of the heart or circulatory system. Until a few years ago, diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke were mainly the preserve of men, but the rapidly changing socio-economic context is changing these old certainties.
More heart problems in women.
Up to the age of 65, European men have higher mortality rates than European women. But with increasing age, coronary heart disease becomes more common and more deadly in women. Various international studies show that female mortality in the 35-75 age group in Western countries is steadily increasing, as are hospitalisations for heart attacks in women under 55.
Italy follows this trend, with around 124,000 women affected by cardiovascular disease every year and a mortality rate of 31%. Coronary heart disease affects 1 in 9 women between the ages of 45 and 64 and 1 in 3 women over 65. In addition, the prevalence of stroke is higher in women and the symptoms and prognosis are worse than in men.
But why is this trend reversing? According to Dr Antonella Mannarini, head of the Gender Cardiology Unit of the National Association of Hospital Cardiologists (ANMCO), men used to smoke and drink much more than women, whereas today, in Western countries, the opposite is true. The use of hard drugs can also cause coronary problems, as can the spread of sedentary lifestyles and the rise in obesity. So, while young women used to be protected by the so-called ‘hormonal umbrella’, oestrogen is no longer enough to protect women, even those of childbearing age, from strokes and heart attacks.
The spread of diabetes is also making the situation worse. According to Prof. Francesco Giorgino, Director of the Endocrinology U.O.C. at the Bari Polyclinic and Vice-President of the European Scientific Society for Diabetes Studies (EASD), people with diabetes are much more likely to develop cardiovascular disease and heart failure. The risk is two-thirds higher for men and four-fifths higher for women. Elevated blood glucose facilitates the process of arteriosclerosis and the associated damage to the brain and heart.
More and more young people are falling ill
One particularly worrying fact about Europe’s young people is that, according to a recent study, only 62.1% of school-age children get enough physical activity and only 1.7% eat a diet considered ideal for cardiovascular health. These behaviours, if not corrected, may predispose young people to cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
Promoting a healthy lifestyle and regular physical activity from adolescence is therefore crucial to the prevention of heart disease. Targeted interventions can not only improve the quality of life of young people, but also significantly reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease in the future adult population. Although cardiovascular disease is more common in older age groups, the increase in risk factors among younger generations is worrying.
Socio-economic status also has a significant impact on the prevalence and mortality of cardiovascular disease. People with lower levels of education have a higher risk of dying from ischaemic heart disease. For example, an analysis of 10 European countries showed that men aged 30 to 59 with a higher level of education had a 55% lower risk of death than those with a lower level of education; for women, the risk was even higher.
A virtuous case: Running Heart 2025
These data highlight the importance of specific prevention strategies that take into account differences in gender, age and socio-economic status to effectively address the burden of cardiovascular disease in Europe.
One example is the Running Heart event, which raises awareness of healthy lifestyles and promotes physical activity. It is now in its seventh edition, thanks to the generous commitment of doctors from ANMCO, the University of Bari Polyclinic, the Onlus Foundation for Your Heart, the Ama Cuore Bari Association, the Bari Diabetics Association Onlus and Meeting Planner.
Thanks to the collaboration with Vivicittà, the international athletics event organised by the Italian Union of Sport for All (UISP) and taking place simultaneously in dozens of cities across Europe, the combination of sport and prevention is further emphasised.
The hundreds of middle-distance runners registered for the race, as well as the citizens of Bari and its province, were also able to undergo free diagnostics in the first days of April 2025.
The volunteer doctors and nurses of the “Race for the Heart” carried out thousands of blood sugar tests, identifying many diabetics who did not know they had the disease and many cases of heart disease, some of them mild, allowing these people to start treatment.
