The project equips ESC National Cardiac Societies and interventional working groups with robust, comparable data that can be used to:

  • Track discrepancies in the use of interventional therapies and quality of care between ESC countries.
  • Identify barriers to implementing recommendations issued by ESC and national interventional cardiology societies.
  • Support policy-making for equitable, evidence‑based cardiovascular care at national and regional level.​

First and second editions

The first edition of the Atlas in Interventional Cardiology was developed as part of the 2016–2018 EAPCI National Cardiac Societies and International Affairs Committee. Data were collected in 2016 from 16 ESC member countries and the first report, published in 2020, described human resources, infrastructure and procedure volumes, highlighting marked heterogeneity linked to national economic resources and policy priorities.​

  • Mapping interventional cardiology in Europe: the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) Atlas Project. Read the article.

Subsequent work expanded the geographical coverage and variables collected, reinforcing the role of the Atlas as a landmark project for understanding interventional practice, supporting guideline implementation and informing reimbursement negotiations with national authorities.​

  • Mapping interventional cardiology in Europe: the second edition of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) Atlas project. Read

Third edition: Atlas of Interventional Cardiology 2023

The third edition, “Atlas of interventional cardiology 2023: European Society of Cardiology and European Association of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions”, provides the most comprehensive assessment to date of interventional cardiology practices across 50 ESC national society member countries. Using a dedicated 2023 survey and a multi‑step quality‑control process, it examines infrastructure, procedural volumes, temporal trends (2013–2022), regional disparities and adherence to guideline‑recommended care.​

Key findings include:

  • Dominance of PCI: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) accounts for more than 90% of all percutaneous cardiovascular procedures, notwithstanding rapid growth in structural and valve interventions.​
  • Progress in coronary care: Lower‑income regions have narrowed the gap with higher‑income regions in key coronary indicators, such as primary PCI, reflecting the impact of ESC guidelines and initiatives such as “Stent for Life”.​
  • Widening disparities in structural heart interventions: there are rising volumes of transcatheter valve procedures, particularly TAVI, but the gap between higher‑ and lower‑income countries has widened, underlining the need for programmes such as “Valve for Life”.​
  • Striking gender disparities in the workforce: Women constitute only about 10% of interventional cardiologists

The 2023 Atlas underscores substantial progress in percutaneous cardiovascular interventions while exposing persistent inequalities between regions and patient groups, reinforcing the need for balanced investment strategies, harmonised training, stronger sex equity, and enhanced data infrastructures.​

  • Atlas of interventional cardiology 2023: European Society of Cardiology and European Association of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions. Read the article in the European Heart Journal