Experts discussed ways to reduce mortality from CVD

At the IV All-Russian Expert Forum "Cardiovascular Diseases and life expectancy", representatives of the Ministry of Health, the expert community and patient organizations discussed how to enhance the effectiveness of the federal project to combat cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and prolong the lives of Russians.

According to the participants of the forum, the project is already yielding results: in the last two years, it has been possible to maintain a historically low mortality rate from diseases of the circulatory system. In 2024, drugs for the treatment of lipid metabolism disorders were included in the list of VED, and in 2025, the state guarantee program provided funding for schools for patients with chronic cardiovascular diseases. Both initiatives have become part of the proposals from the roadmap of the All-Russian Union of Patients.

Nevertheless, experts are confident that we need to move on. One of the key issues is improving the system of preferential drug provision for people with high cardiovascular risk. The focus is on patients with lipid metabolism disorders, as well as diagnoses that often go hand in hand and significantly increase the risk of heart attack or stroke — arterial hypertension (AH), chronic heart failure (CHF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

In Russia, about 40% of the adult population suffers from hypertension. Despite the fact that it is officially recognized as a socially significant disease, there is still no federal free drug program for it. Since 2025, the project has expanded the indications for prescribing iNGLT2 drugs to patients with CHF — now they can be used regardless of the ejection fraction.

The forum participants paid additional attention to cholesterol control, another significant risk factor. Today, clinical guidelines establish a step-by-step approach to reducing its level. If standard medications do not work, doctors can prescribe targeted therapy, so—called PCSK9 inhibitors. These drugs help effectively reduce "bad" cholesterol and prevent repeated heart attacks and strokes.

According to the calculations of the Ministry of Health, funding at the level of 6.8 billion rubles per year will cover 235,000 patients with hypertension and CKD and save almost 4.7 thousand lives annually. Another 22.9 billion rubles will be required for therapy for 572,000 patients with CHF and hypertension, and 13.8 billion for 441,000 people with atrial fibrillation. In total, this amounts to almost 20 thousand saved lives per year. An additional 1.7 billion rubles for the treatment of severe forms of dyslipidemia will change the prognosis for the quality of 5-6 thousand patients.

The forum showed that the project is developing, but important steps are ahead — expanding coverage, strengthening drug support and systemic prevention of complications. Without such solutions, it is impossible to achieve the national goal of a long and active life — to increase the average life expectancy to 78 years.