Tobacco use, which is completely avoidable, kills 6 million people a year. As one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), it accounts for almost 10 per cent of cardiovascular mortality.

In conjunction with leading cardiovascular and health organisations, the World Heart Federationis launching today the CVD Roadmap on tobacco control at the 16th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Abu Dhabi.   

The CVD roadmap on tobacco control, which accompanies similar tools on raised blood pressure and the treatment of heart disease and stroke, points to the policies that protect people from death and disability from cardiovascular disease.

“Everyone benefits from tobacco control law, though it can be argued that people with cardiovascular disease are the ones who benefit most from its life-saving protection.  It is one of the surest, simplest and cheapest ways to protect people with heart disease from having heart attacks and stroke. Anyone who cares about heart health…his own, or that of others… has a very strong stake in tobacco control”, said Johanna Ralston, Chief Executive Officer of the World Heart Federation.

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