Population ageing and cardiovascular health: the case of Greece

Demographic dynamics are responsible for the ageing of the European population. The substantial increase in life expectancy coupled with the decrease in fertility rates has reshaped the population pyramids and has shifted volumes towards older age-groups. Of all European countries, Greece is among the faster ageing ones. Currently, half of the Greek population is above 43.6 years of age, while one of five Greeks is above 65 years of age. Reliable projections suggest that, regardless the actions taken today, this ‘greying’ will continue in the decades to come owing to the ‘demographic inertia,’ a term used to describe the importance of current age-structure in future population trends.1 Growing shares of elder and old population will bring changes to the structure of our societies and affect almost all spheres of our lives. Thus, the ageing of the population is as much a challenge as an achievement.2 Of all areas, health care is particularly sensitive to a population's age-structure.