Heart and stroke charities are calling on the Government to develop a new national strategy to tackle cardiovascular disease (CVD).
They say that there are "gaping holes" in the provision of cardiac care, which need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
In a report today, the National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health (NIPC) says that around 80% of deaths linked to heart disease each year could be prevented with better services.
CVD is the main cause of mortality here, leading to around 9,000 deaths annually.
The 56-page document, Advancing a Prevention Agenda for Cardiovascular Care in Ireland, argues that a clinical approach to heart health should be seen as part of a wider strategy to improve general wellbeing.
Backed by cardiac campaign groups like Croí and the Irish Heart Foundation, the position paper sets out a range of actions that are needed, in order to improve outcomes for those with cardiovascular issues and to reduce the numbers presenting with serious illness in the first place.
It calls for a national screening programme to identify those at risk of high cholesterol, as a result of a condition called familial hypercholesterolaemia. This causes elevated levels of cholesterol from birth and impacts an estimated 20,000 people here. However, the majority of cases are undetected.
The report says there also needs to be a greater focus on detecting high blood pressure, often referred to as the silent indicator of potential cardiac issues.
The paper says enhanced monitoring would drive earlier intervention and reduce the number of people who go on to have heart attacks. It says similar measures should be rolled out to identify atrial fibrillation, a signal of possible stroke risk.
The NIPC says that while there have been improvements in tackling cardiovascular disease in recent decades, these have not been matched with infrastructural investment.
It also points to "extreme waiting times" for public patients in accessing cardiology services, and a shortfall in follow up services, such as cardiac rehabilitation, for those who experience heart attacks.
The report says the HSE and the Department of Health needs to take "renewed ownership of CVD" and drive meaningful improvements for society as a whole.
It says this would save thousands of lives and avoid considerable costs incurred as a result of delayed or late treatment.
The institute says a previous national strategy lapsed in 2019 and that it is long past time for a replacement initiative to be devised.
