Cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in England.

At Health Innovation KSS, our CVD prevention programme is planned and delivered collaboratively with partners across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, to develop, implement and embed strategies that tackle CVD and address the closely interconnected issues of health inequalities and climate change simultaneously.

Cardiovascular disease illustration - Doctor performing an ECG on a patient

Cardiovascular disease prevention

The problem

Poor cardiovascular health can cause heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, peripheral arterial disease and the onset of vascular dementia. CVD affects around seven million people in the UK and is responsible for one in four deaths; that’s more than 160,000 deaths each year and includes more than 40,000 people under the age of 75. Cardiovascular disease is strongly linked to health inequalities. In 2022, people under the age of 75 living in the most deprived areas of England were more than twice as likely to die from heart disease than people living in the least deprived areas.

Across Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) there is already a high prevalence of CVD with high numbers of individuals diagnosed with CVD, heart disease, stroke and related conditions. CVD and climate change are closely interconnected, particularly when viewed through the lens of health inequalities. There is now a rising incidence of new cases of CVD, partly due to the region’s ageing populations, which are more susceptible to both CVD and climate change impacts, as well as areas with higher levels of deprivation, air quality concerns, rising temperatures, diet and lifestyle factors that contribute significantly to CVD in the region.

Our work

National programmes

The National Health Innovation Network cardiovascular disease (CVD) programme aligns with the NHS Long Term Plan and is being delivered by the 15 health innovation networks across England as part of a three-year programme, to help unlock considerable health gains and support the ambition to prevent 150,000 strokes, heart attacks and dementia cases.

The national CVD programme aims to improve the detection, management, and outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease within the region, to reduce the burden of the disease by integrating and improving access to innovative practices and technologies into the healthcare system, ultimately improving patient outcomes and enhancing the quality of care.

Our CVD portfolio includes lipids optimisation, Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH), blood pressure optimisation and heart failure programmes.

Local programmes – CVD Central

We are working in partnership with key stakeholders across Kent, Surrey and Sussex to identify local CVD projects, collaborative working opportunities and shared learning to support system priorities.

In addition to the National Programme work, we have developed a local programme in Kent, Surrey and Sussex called CVD Central. This threads through all our CVD programmes. CVD Central offers access to resources, an education series, a community of practice and initiatives that are designed to help healthcare professionals, commissioners, and other stakeholders improve CVD outcomes through evidence-based interventions, collaboration, and the use of innovative technologies.

Visit CVD Central

Current programmes

To find resources for each programme visit CVD central.

drugs at background of patient and physician

Lipids Optimisation

The Lipid Optimisation Programme is designed to support clinicians to improve cardiovascular health by encouraging healthy lifestyle changes and optimising lipid management, particularly focusing on lowering cholesterol levels for those who are at high risk and increasing access to all lipid lowering therapies set out in the NICE-endorsed National Lipid Management Pathway.

Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH)

The FH Programme is aligned with the NHS Long Term Plan ambition to support the increased percentage of genetically confirmed heterozygous FH from the current level of 13.6% to 25%. FH is an inherited condition that results in high levels of blood cholesterol and a high risk of heart disease at an early age. FH affects an estimated one in 250 people, which suggests that in the Kent, Surrey and Sussex region around 18,400 individuals may have FH. Management of FH with lipid-lowering therapy is highly effective but most people with FH are undetected and therefore not managed.

Patients & public - Man at home takes blood pressure

Blood Pressure Optimisation

The Blood Pressure Optimisation Programme is an initiative designed to support healthcare professionals, systems, and patients, to detect high blood pressure, optimise blood pressure management and control high blood pressure (hypertension) across healthcare settings. Aligning with the NHS Long Term Plan our ambition is to support the increase in detection of high blood pressure and the percentage of people with hypertension treated to NICE guidance to 80%.

Doctor doing ECG exercise test at examination room

Heart Failure

The Heart Failure Programme is aimed at improving the care and outcomes for patients living with heart failure, by supporting clinicians across several key focus areas to improve the detection and optimal management of heart failure, reduce hospital admissions, readmissions and enhance the quality of patient care.

A woman with a headscarf holding her son

Innovation for Healthcare Inequalities Programme (InHIP)

Health Innovation KSS is supporting its three local integrated care systems (ICSs) as they deliver the InHip programme with a focus on CVD, which is an initiative designed to address and reduce healthcare inequalities through innovative approaches. Launched by NHS England, the programme focuses on implementing solutions that ensure equitable access to healthcare services, particularly for underrepresented or disadvantaged communities.

Find out more about InHIP

News and case studies

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Join the CVD Central mailing list to receive regular updates on the CVD Central programme, including education opportunities, events and resources. Or get in touch with our CVD team to find out more about how you can get involved.

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