Cardiovascular disease accounts for more than 50 percent of all deaths in Lithuania, making it the country’s leading cause of mortality according to a report by 15min.lt.
Ischemic heart disease, which manifests as myocardial infarction, sits at the top of the national mortality statistics. High blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, smoking, and obesity are the main risk factors.
“Really, when it comes to cardiovascular disease, it seems like we’re talking, talking,” cardiologist Tomas Lapinskas said in an interview published by 15min.lt. “But when I talk to ordinary people somewhere in the region, they say: ‘We’ve heard something, but we’re not entirely sure.'”
State-funded screening programs in Lithuania offer full diagnostic evaluations for residents aged 40 to 60. These checks include electrocardiograms, blood tests, lipid profiles, and cardiac ultrasounds.
Participation rates vary sharply across municipalities. Regional data shows that fewer than 20 percent of eligible residents utilize free screenings in certain areas. Other municipalities reach closer to 60 percent participation.
Access barriers in rural regions and a lack of workplace encouragement hinder broader participation. Some individuals skip screenings simply because they do not view health maintenance as a personal priority, 15min.lt reported.
Prolonged exposure to elevated cholesterol accelerates arterial damage. Patients with high cholesterol from a young age typically reach critical cardiac events 10 to 15 years earlier than those without familial hypercholesterolemia.
“To measure blood pressure, it is enough to have a blood pressure monitor,” Dr. Lapinskas told 15min.lt. He noted that regular monitoring does not require major financial investments or complex medical procedures.
Recent studies show that patients with normal myocardial perfusion during stress testing face a less than one percent chance of suffering a coronary blockage within the next five years, according to 15min.lt.
Periodic blood tests are sufficient for tracking lipid levels rather than annual checks, 15min.lt reported.
Keep reading