The Joint Action on CARdiovascular diseases and DIabetes (JACARDI) aims to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes within the European Union (EU). By addressing health challenges at both the individual and population levels, the project aims to bring about a lasting transformation in the quality of care while ensuring the sustainability and equity of our health care systems.

JACARDI addresses the priorities of the EU health program developed in response to the COVID-19 crisis; more specifically, it aims to:

• carry out harmonized and coordinated projects at the European level to move beyond isolated national actions and increase the impact of public health policies;
• deploy common methodologies that have proven effective in the field;
• cover all areas likely to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, particularly the risk factors common to both conditions, whether behavioral (unhealthy diet, physical activity/sedentary lifestyle) or metabolic (high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, etc.);
• have a greater impact at the European level than isolated national actions, particularly to support the development and implementation of large-scale public health initiatives.

Establishing an approach centered on the individual and health equity

JACARDI tests and proposes concrete solutions across the entire patient journey—whether in terms of prevention, early screening, treatment and care, or self-management—to achieve the following objectives:

• improve health literacy and raise awareness among the population—especially those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged—about cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and their risk factors;
• implement effective primary prevention measures, screening initiatives, and improved care pathways for cardiovascular disease and diabetes by targeting groups at high cardiometabolic risk;
• strengthen support for self-management and labor market participation for people diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or diabetes;
• improve the availability, quality, and accessibility of data throughout the patient’s care journey;
• promote equity in health services and information by ensuring equal access for everyone, regardless of language proficiency, cognitive abilities, age, or life circumstances.

Establishing a Resilient Healthcare Model 

Beyond medical management, JACARDI addresses the social and economic determinants of health. By adopting a collaborative governance model, the project aims to build more resilient and equitable communities for millions of Europeans.

At the end of the four-year project, the lessons learned from the pilot projects will serve as the basis for developing a strategic roadmap for Member States, with the goal of rolling out effective interventions at the national and regional levels.

The 21 participating European countries have come together in 11 working groups (or work packages) and around 143 pilot projects to demonstrate the effectiveness of the practices implemented and reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

• Discover all of JACARDI’s pilot projects

Santé publique France is the competent authority for France and coordinates JACARDI-France with five other affiliated French entities^* to ensure that actions are complementary and consistent.

Pilot projects led by Santé publique France

Health Literacy

• Pilot 7: Improving health literacy among women following a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy
• Pilot 8: Improving awareness of blood pressure readings and hypertension among the general population

Data and registries

• Pilot 48 – DIAB Lab: Improving the diabetes surveillance system in France by collecting real-world laboratory data
• Pilot 55 – DIAB Type 1: Improving the diabetes surveillance system in France by developing a specific surveillance system for type 1 diabetes
• Pilot 67: Documenting gender disparities in cardiovascular disease and diabetes

Improving Screening

• Pilot 71 – Unknown DIAB: Developing a tool to identify undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in the general population
• Pilot 72: Enabling screened individuals to know their blood pressure readings and promoting opportunistic screening for undiagnosed hypertension (follow-up to Pilot 7, WP6)

Pilot projects in which Santé publique France is a partner

Health Literacy

• Pilot 9 – ALISA DIAB (led by Paimpol Hospital): Improving health literacy with a focus on vulnerable populations and health inequities related to type 2 diabetes in France

Patient Care Pathway

• Pilot 90 – ITINERANCE (led by Nantes University Hospital in partnership with the University Hospitals of Toulouse and Lyon): Improving the care pathway and patient journey for individuals with diabetes and chronic kidney disease

*The entities affiliated with JACARDI France are: the Nantes University Hospital, the Tours University Hospital, the Toulouse University Hospital, the Lyon University Hospital, and the Saint-Brieuc–Paimpol–Tréguier Hospital.

JACARDI seeks to reduce social and regional inequalities by addressing complex health challenges in an inclusive manner, focusing on the social and economic determinants of health, cultural diversity, and equity. To this end, 143 pilot projects are being implemented in population-based, community-based, and clinical settings, based on practices proven to improve the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. With this goal in mind, JACARDI projects are organized around the steps outlined below.

An analysis of available resources and a needs assessment

This step helps identify existing resources (initiatives already undertaken, available tools, educational materials, healthcare professionals, etc.) and gaps that need to be addressed.

Next, the needs of the target population are identified, taking into account their sociocultural characteristics, knowledge, and health practices.

Co-designing the intervention

This involves engaging stakeholders, particularly at the local level: community members, health professionals, and policymakers are involved from the outset of the process to co-design the intervention.

The intervention’s objectives are defined based on the identified needs and available resources.

Implementation of the intervention

The intervention is integrated into the routine practices of health professionals and local stakeholders. Health professionals are trained in the use of new tools and concepts and in communicating with the most vulnerable individuals

Impact evaluation

The impact of the intervention is evaluated regularly to measure its effectiveness and make any necessary adjustments.

Sustainability

The most promising initiatives—those that have demonstrated their ability to reduce health inequalities by improving access to information and care—are proposed at the European level. Long-term monitoring is implemented to ensure the sustainability of the intervention and measure its impact on the population’s health.

The implementation of similar, coordinated projects at the European level helps maximize the impact of public health initiatives, particularly in the fight against cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

By applying common methodologies that have already proven effective in the field, these projects can address all areas likely to reduce the burden of these diseases, with a particular focus on common risk factors.

These include behavioral risk factors, such as an unhealthy diet, a sedentary lifestyle, or a lack of physical activity, as well as metabolic risk factors (high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, etc.). This coordinated, Europe-wide approach has a greater impact than isolated national actions, thereby contributing more effectively to the development of ambitious and sustainable public health initiatives.