Beyond World Heart Day: understanding cardiovascular health as a lifelong journey

Every year, World Heart Day on 29 September gives us a reason to stop and think about our cardiovascular health. But our hearts do not need our attention for just one day. Understanding our risks, recognising changes and taking care of our cardiovascular health are part of a much longer journey.

According to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), cardiovascular diseases also remain Europe’s leading cause of death, responsible for more than 3.9 million deaths every year. Many cardiovascular diseases can be prevented or their risk reduced by addressing factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity and diet. Other factors, including age and family history, cannot be changed, but understanding our individual risk can still help us take action earlier.

But cardiovascular health is not the same for everyone. It is a journey that can take many different paths, shaped by our risks, our health and our individual needs. And at every stage — from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, treatment and long-term monitoring — there are opportunities to improve how cardiovascular care is delivered. This is where GRACE comes in.

Funded under the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI), GRACE brings together 27 partners from 11 European countries, including hospitals, research institutions, academia, patient associations, public stakeholders and MedTech companies. Together, they are working across six Use Cases to explore how innovation and technology can contribute to better cardiovascular care.

diagnosis of INOCA, optimising heart failure management and exploring a more holistic approach to cardiovascular care.

The GRACE Use Cases cover a broad range of cardiovascular challenges: from earlier detection and remote monitoring in atrial fibrillation, improving the coordination between oncology patients with cardiovascular risks (cardio-oncology), supporting recovery after cardiac surgery, advancing cardiac MRI for INOCA diagnosis, optimising heart failure management and developing a more holistic pathway for cardiovascular disease.

The idea is simple: there is no single cardiovascular journey. Patients can have different risks, conditions and needs, and healthcare professionals need the right tools and information to respond to them. GRACE is therefore exploring how digital health, advanced imaging, wearable devices and AI-driven tools can support evidence-based and personalised approaches to cardiovascular care.

The World Heart Day is a reminder to look after our hearts, but also to think about how cardiovascular care can continue to improve. Prevention, early detection, diagnosis, monitoring and follow-up all have a role to play, and innovation can help connect these different pieces.

At GRACE, this work continues beyond 29 September. Because caring for our hearts is not something we should do once a year. It is something we do throughout our lives.