The Council for Heart Health (CfHH) is an inclusive group of global cardiovascular health experts, policymakers and patient advocates that aims to raise awareness of the emerging challenges of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and more specifically atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) – and explore policy solutions that can reduce the number of premature deaths and help ease the associated burdens on society and healthcare systems.

The CfHH aims to:

(a) transform the management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) as the major contributor to the rise of cardiovascular diseases

(b) explore policy solutions that can reduce the number of premature deaths and help ease the associated burdens on society and healthcare systems and

(c) reverse the trajectory of cardiovascular mortality rates and contribute to the progress towards meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 and “leaving no-one behind”

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) – also called atherosclerosis – is the build-up of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls. This build-up is called plaque. The plaque can cause arteries to narrow, blocking blood flow. The plaque can also burst, leading to blood clots. ASCVD and resulting outcomes, such as myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke, account for 85% of CVD deaths and affect roughly 300 million people around the world. Every minute, approximately 34 people with ASCVD die from myocardial infarction or stroke. And yet 80% of premature heart disease and stroke is preventable.