The most common cause of death from treatable diseases and conditions was ischaemic heart disease with 77 704 deaths (17.9 per 100 000 inhabitants), followed by colorectal cancer with 57 476 (13.2 per 100 000 inhabitants) and breast cancer in women with 40 970 (9.5 per 100 000 inhabitants) deaths.

For preventable diseases, the most common causes of death were lung cancer with 136 199 (31.2 per 100 000 inhabitants), ischaemic heart disease with 77 704 deaths (17.9 per 100 000 inhabitants) and COVID-19 with 71 919 deaths (16.6 per 100 000 inhabitants).

In 2022, the number of deaths from avoidable diseases varied significantly across the EU. Latvia recorded the highest rate with 543.3 avoidable deaths per 100 000 inhabitants, including 200.7 from treatable and 342.6 from preventable conditions and diseases. Romania had 519.3 avoidable deaths per 100 000 (215.0 treatable and 304.3 preventable), while Hungary recorded 511.8 (178.4 treatable and 333.4 preventable).

The lowest rates of avoidable deaths were registered in Sweden with 169.3 per 100 000 (59.2 treatable and 110.2 preventable), Italy with 176.7 (63.5 treatable and 113.3 preventable), and Luxembourg with 180.2 (60.4 treatable and 119.8 preventable).

Roughly 525 vs 175 per 100 000, that is a difference of 300%. In Latvia 3 times more people die from treatable and preventable diseases then people in Sweden do.

I hope EU doesn’t only put policies in place to equal out the economic proposition of individuals, but also their acces to good healthcare (including healthcare aimed at prevention). I knew there still is a significant gap between the richest and poorest member states when it comes to average income but didn’t realise how big this gap was when it comes to health.