The lungs and the heart work together to keep us alive. The lungs bring oxygen in and the heart pumps it through the body. When one system is affected, the other is often impacted too. For people living with chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma or COPD, this connection is part of daily life and health.
EFA shed light from the respiratory patient community on why heart and lung health cannot be separated in its response to the European Commission consultation on the first-ever EU Cardiovascular Health plan. For 200 million Europeans living with allergy, asthma and COPD, the Cardiovascular Health Plan is an opportunity to strengthen prevention, early detection and care and could become a blueprint for a future EU Lung Health Plan.
Why is the plan important for lung patients?
The Plan is the first of its kind for cardiovascular diseases. Like the Beating Cancer Plan, it has the potential to set a precedent for how Europe tackles other major non-communicable diseases. Its focus on prevention, early detection and screening is just as important for lung health.
Heart and lung diseases often overlap. COPD, chronic bronchitis and emphysema affect both systems, and patients with pulmonary hypertension or atrial fibrillation often also suffer from COPD. Smoking is the clearest shared risk: it contributes to heart attacks and strokes, while also causing COPD and lung cancer and worsening asthma. By tackling these risks together, the plan can save lives and reflect the reality of patients who rarely face one condition in isolation.
EFA recommendations - connecting the dots between heart and lung health
Recognising the vital connection between cardiovascular and respiratory health is essential for effective public health policy in Europe. EFA supports the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan, but urges the inclusion of respiratory diseases within its scope, given the frequent overlap in conditions such as COPD, pulmonary hypertension, and atrial fibrillation. Environmental and climate factors, worsen both heart and lung disease, while lifestyle risks like smoking compound the damage. EFA calls for integrated health checks, preventive strategies, vaccination programmes and awareness campaigns to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases and improve quality of life for affected communities.
Addressing health inequities is crucial to reducing the burden of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases across Europe. Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), like asthma and COPD, disproportionately affect disadvantaged populations and contribute to disability and mortality, often in conjunction with cardiovascular conditions. Data shows that middle-aged adults in lower socioeconomic groups face up to 150% higher risk of premature death. Gender adds another layer: after puberty, women experience higher asthma rates and face unique challenges linked to hormonal changes and healthcare access. EFA calls on the Commission to integrate equity considerations into the Cardiovascular Health Plan and ensure targeted interventions that address these root causes of disparity.
Boosting research and innovation is essential to closing the gaps in cardiovascular and respiratory disease care across Europe. Despite their massive impact on society and the economy, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases remain underfunded and under-researched. This lack of reliable data undermines evidence-based policymaking. EFA welcomes the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan’s prioritisation of research and innovation and urges equal attention to respiratory diseases. New tools such as digital twins, artificial intelligence and personalised medicine show great promise for prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Research into women’s health is especially urgent, as the role of female hormones in inflammatory diseases such as asthma, COPD and atopic eczema remains poorly understood.
The EU Cardiovascular Diseases Plan offers a strong foundation for developing a dedicated EU Lung Health Plan. The plan’s pillars of prevention, early detection and care management are just as relevant for respiratory diseases. With the European Commission reaffirming its commitment to tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through initiatives like the European Health Union and the ‘Healthier Together’ programme, now is the time to expand policy action to include chronic respiratory conditions. EFA urges the Commission to seize this momentum and establish a dedicated EU Lung Health Plan to address the growing burden of respiratory disease.
The European Commission is expected to adopt the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan in the fourth quarter of 2025. EFA will continue to ensure that the voice of the respiratory patient community is reflected in this process, keeping lungs on the EU health agenda.
You can read our full response here.