Worrying medical statistics

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Romania. 60% of the total number of deaths are caused by CVDs, three times more than the ones caused by cancer

Leyla Cheamil, 02.10.2018, 12:29

The
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, marked in countries across the world every October,
is dedicated to actions meant to raise awareness over the danger posed by this
disease. Statistics show that only two thirds of women with breast cancer are
over 50, the rest of them being 39 to 49. In Romania, in spite of a smaller
number of cases as compared to other European countries, the number of deaths
caused by this disease has doubled in the past 50 years and figures show that
almost 10 thousand new cases are diagnosed every year. Romanian Health
Minister, Sorina Pintea, says that education, prevention and the early
detection of this disease are crucial, given its growing incidence. Sorina
Pintea:

Cancer
is usually detected in its 3rd or 4th stage, which is
very late. We have started, as of May, a screening programme financed from
European funds, worth 21 million euros, that will help 40 thousand women from
the most underprivileged category. The programme addresses both insured and
uninsured patients, which is very important. Specialists say this form of
cancer is detected in increasingly younger women and not only in women aged
around 50, as it was the case before.

Cardiologists
don’t have good news either. They say that in Romania, cardiovascular diseases (CVD)
are the leading cause of death – 60% of the total number, and three times more
than the deaths from cancer. The head of the Romanian Society of Cardiology,
Dragos Vinereanu, signals the fact that the number of deaths caused by CVDs is
the main reason for life expectancy in Romania being by around 10 years lower
than in the other EU countries. Dragos Vinereanu made this statement on
September 29th, on World Heart Day, when he also said that CVDs kill
an increasing number of people aged around 30. In his opinion, the current
situation is closely related to the severe under-financing of the Romanian
health system, one of the smallest in the EU. Our weak point is early
prevention, although the impact of early prevention measures is less costly and
more effective,’ Dragos Vinereanu has also said.

(Translated by E. Enache)