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Guidance & Recommendations

The World Heart Federation supports the development of policies that have a positive impact on people’s heart health. Our roadmaps, policy briefs and position papers can be adapted to different contexts and are regularly updated based on the latest available evidence.

CVD Roadmaps

Our Roadmaps are designed and developed by international teams of experts who together identify challenges and offer solutions on specific topics impacting cardiovascular mortality. They can serve as models for regions and countries to develop their own Roadmaps and create or update their national non-communicable disease action plans. They offer a framework to bring together stakeholders with the objective of determining, prioritizing and implementing solutions to reduce premature CVD deaths in any context.

Atrial Fibrillation
Chagas Disease
Cholesterol
CVD in People Living with Diabetes
Digital Health in Cardiology
Heart Failure
Hypertension
Rheumatic Heart Disease
Secondary Prevention
Tobacco Control
Learn more

Policy Briefs

Our policy briefs present concise summaries of information that can help readers understand and make informed decisions about policies related to cardiovascular disease, associated risk factors and determinants of health. They provide objective summaries of relevant research, outline existing global policies, suggest possible approaches and argue for courses of action that governments should take when creating or considering policies to foster healthy environments in their country or region.

WHF Policy Brief on Front-of-Pack Labelling
Clean Air, Smart Cities, Healthy Hearts
E-cigarettes: A New Threat for Cardiovascular Health
The Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Cardiovascular Health: Myths and Measures

 

Position Papers

Our position papers reflect our policy positions on a wide range of CVD-related issues. They are supported by scientific studies published in recognized journals and have a rigorous review and approval process. These papers generally include a review of data available on a specific subject, an evaluation on its relationship to overall cardiovascular disease science, and WHF recommendations on the basis of that evaluation within the context of global public health policy.

The Case for the Digital Transformation of Circulatory Health
Improving Access to Essential Medicines for All People: A Call to Action
Preventing the Next Pandemic: The Case for Investing in Circulatory Health

Latest News

EACH Cardiovascular Health Summit

Save the Date: EACH Cardiovascular Health Summit When: 10–11 December 2025 | Add to calendarWhere: Brussels, Belgium Why: With the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan expected to be published by the European Commission before the end of this year, the EACH Cardiovascular Health Summit will serve as a key opportunity to maintain political momentum and advocate […]

URGENT NEED TO ADDRESS AIR POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE AS DRIVERS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

  As the world prepares to convene in Belém for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), we respectfully urge governments and global leaders to place cardiovascular health at the centre of climate commitments.  Climate change poses both direct and indirect threats to heart health. Two of the most urgent direct risks are:  Air […]

Active Lives, Healthy Hearts: Advancing WHO’s Physical Activity Agenda in Europe

This statement was submitted under Agenda Item 12 – Progress Reports – at the Seventy-Fifth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe Honourable Chair, Distinguished Delegates, The World Heart Federation and the European Heart Network commend WHO and Member States for the progress achieved in implementing the Physical Activity Strategy for the WHO European […]

No One Left Behind: Ensuring Cardiovascular Health in Refugees and Migrants

This statement was submitted under Agenda Item 12 – Progress Reports – at the Seventy-Fifth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe   Honourable Chair, Distinguished Delegates,   The World Heart Federation and the European Heart Network commend WHO and Member States for the progress made in implementing the new Action Plan for Refugee […]

All Topics

Air Pollution

Air Pollution

Chagas Disease

Chagas Disease

Cholesterol

Cholesterol

COVID-19

COVID-19

Diabetes

Diabetes

Healthy Diet

Healthy Diet

Heart Failure

Heart Failure

Hypertension

Hypertension

Obesity

Obesity

Prevention

Prevention

Rheumatic Heart Disease

Rheumatic Heart Disease

Tobacco

Tobacco

Women & CVD

Women & CVD

The most common heart attack symptom, in both men and women, is some type of chest pain, pressure or discomfort. But chest pain is not always the most noticeable symptom, especially in women, who are more likely to experience it as pressure or tightness in the chest. They may even have no chest pain at […]

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