What is CARDIO4Cities?

A city-led mission to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks

Too many people in cities live with undetected or poorly controlled cardiovascular risk until it becomes a stroke, heart attack or other life-changing event. CARDIO4Cities aims to help cities change that trajectory.

A Novartis Foundation initiative developed together with city and health-system partners, CARDIO4Cities combines data, evidence-based action, cross-sectoral collaboration, and local accountability to help cities strengthen cardiovascular care and improve heart health at the population level using practical, locally anchored strategies.

The ultimate goal: support local teams to find people at risk earlier, improve access to care and strengthen the systems that keep people healthier for longer.

In pioneer cities, this whole-of-city approach was estimated to avert up to 13% of strokes and 12% of heart attacks within one to two years of implementation.

The impact

A global approach with local impact

CARDIO4Cities provides a data-driven, multisector partnership approach to help improve cardiovascular health in urban populations.

Diagnosis

increased blood pressure control rates in early-adopter cities

Risk reduction

lower risk for stroke hospitalization*

Cost-effectiveness

lower cost to achieve one additional healthy year in life per person*

Create impact in your city!

Cities & Impact

Our growing city network

CARDIO4Cities is being adapted by cities and partners around the world and in different health-system contexts.

Learn more about our activities worldwide

Pioneer cities

Ongoing cities

Engaging cities

Smaller cities

Cities & Impact

Our growing city network

CARDIO4Cities is being adapted by cities and partners around the world and in different health-system contexts.

Learn more about our activities worldwide

Pioneer cities

Ongoing cities

Engaging cities

Smaller cities

The CARDIO Approach

6 pillars for rapid and sustainable impact

C
Quality of Care
Improving hypertension management with streamlined protocols and training of healthcare professionals.
A
Early Access
Bringing health and care closer to where people live and work and engaging non-health players.
R
Reform Policies
Governments should enforce strategies and reforms, taxation and incentive structures, to address the growing burden of cardiovascular disease.
D
Data & Digital
Beside the collection and use of real-time data, digital technology provides an array of opportunities to transform the way health and care are delivered.
I
Intersectoral Collaboration
Public- and private-sector stakeholders from across society are all playing a role in fighting hypertension.
O
Local Ownership
Local authorities and local partners should own the design, implementation and monitoring of interventions and solutions to fight hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Explore the CARDIO approach CARDIO4Cities in Practice provides concrete intervention options for each pillar, validated in partner cities.

Led by the Novartis Foundation. Built with cities and partners.

CARDIO4Cities is the Novartis Foundation’s flagship approach for cardiometabolic population health. It brings together city leaders, health authorities, implementation partners, funders and technical experts to develop local blueprints for measurable population health impact.

Learn more about the Novartis Foundation and its partners