A new report for the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) has said that health authorities are not doing enough to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) and that a radical approach could save thousands of lives each year.
It calls for mandatory limits on salt content of bread and processed foods, a complete online ban on marketing of high fat, sugar and salt food and drinks, plus an increase in the legal age of the sale of tobacco from 18 to 21.
The report for the IHF was prepared by Professor Ivan Perry and Kerrie Gallagher, School of Public Health, University College Cork.
CVD accounted for 8,753 deaths in 2021.
The report says that the Government needs to invest in policy measures to prevent people dying from cardiovascular disease, rather than solely focusing on those already ill.
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It also says a new national cardiovascular policy is needed after the last one expired four years ago.
Cardiovascular disease is estimated to cost the State about €1.7 billion a year, of which almost half is direct care costs.
While deaths from CVD have declined over the past two decades, it remains Ireland's second leading cause of death after cancer.
The main risk factors driving CVD are smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet, obesity and excessive alcohol consumption.
The report has been backed by a new health lobby being launched today, the Irish Health Promotion Alliance, whose members include the IHF, Alcohol Action Ireland, Asthma Society, Irish Cancer Society, the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Kidney Association.
The aim of the new lobby is to advocate for major policy change to promote the prevention of chronic diseases like CVD, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory conditions.
In response, the Department of Health said it is fully committed to cardiovascular disease prevention.
It said that Ireland made significant progress under the 2010-2019 strategy, better performing than the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD) average relating to several factors, including the 30-day mortality after stroke.
The department also said that the sugar sweetened drinks tax was introduced in 2018 and an evaluation of it will be completed next year.
