Blood Health: A Major But Neglected Public Health Challenge

Poor blood health, mostly caused by anaemia and iron deficiency, affects more than 28 million people across Europe, yet remains under-recognised in European health policy. Its consequences extend across many of Europe’s major health challenges, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic kidney disease and inflammatory bowel disease, while women and children are disproportionately affected. For people living with cardiovascular disease, poor blood health can place additional strain on the cardiovascular system and may worsen symptoms and health outcomes.

Improving blood health therefore offers an opportunity to improve patient safety and patient outcomes across multiple disease areas, reduce health inequalities and strengthen the sustainability of European healthcare systems, including through approaches such as patient blood management. For cardiovascular patients, recognising and addressing conditions such as anaemia and iron deficiency can also form an important part of a more holistic approach to care.