Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are the most frequent cause of death in Germany and are responsible for roughly one third of all deaths. Nevertheless, effective concentrated activities on containment of cardiovascular diseases have not yet been established neither in Germany nor in the rest of Europe. The aim of the National Heart Alliance (NHA) is to change this. The NHA is an initiative of the German Cardiac Society (DGK), the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (DGTHG), the German Heart Foundation (DHS), the German Society for Pediatric Cardiology (DGPK) and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) as well as the Federal Association of Resident Cardiologists (BNK) and the Association of Leading Hospital Cardiologists (ALKK). Under the umbrella of the NHA two pilot projects on the screening for familial hypercholesterolemia and chronic heart failure will be initiated with the aim of implementing the appropriate examinations into standard care. Such exemplary initiatives aim to achieve a better support for research of these disease patterns. In the future early recognition and prevention of cardiovascular diseases should be improved with the main aim to further reduce the morbidity and mortality of these diseases.