Reunion Island Launches Campaign to Combat Rising cardiovascular Disease Rates with “artery Age” Assessments
Saint-Denis, Réunion - A new prevention campaign is underway in Réunion Island, aiming to address a substantially higher incidence of cardiovascular and neurovascular diseases compared to mainland France. Spearheaded by Urops, in collaboration with medical partners (PMSM, Medicalib, SmartDiet) and the Local health Insurance Section network, the initiative offers free screenings to determine individuals’ “artery age” – a key indicator of cardiovascular risk.
The campaign utilizes a non-invasive “popmeter” device to measure pulse wave velocity (VOP), providing a rapid assessment of arterial rigidity. This metric can reveal an artery age exceeding biological age, signaling potential for serious heart or brain complications.screenings are accompanied by personalized interviews and guidance from a dietician.This effort builds on a accomplished 2023 operation focused on diabetes and cardiovascular disease screening, which identified over 1,400 at-risk individuals.Data from 2021-2023 reveals a concerning trend: the hospitalization rate for cardio-neuro-vascular disease in Réunion was higher than the national average. Specifically, 1,883 patients were hospitalized for cerebrovascular accidents during that period, resulting in a standardized annual incidence rate of 384 per 100,000 inhabitants – significantly above the national rate of 231 per 100,000. Stroke-related deaths averaged 328 per year between 2020 and 2022, representing 5.7% of all deaths, with a standardized mortality rate of 87 per 100,000, exceeding the national rate of 58.
Public health officials attribute the higher rates to prevalent risk factors including smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity, overweight, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and excessive alcohol consumption. Arterial rigidity, as measured by VOP, is now recognized as a predictor of cardiovascular events, autonomous of these traditional risk factors.www.imazpress.com/redac@ipreunion.com
Health, stroke, infarction
