A mobile medical unit will soon travel across Brussels to provide free cardiovascular screenings, as part of a new research project launched by UZ Brussel. The initiative seeks to better understand how social and economic factors influence heart disease among the capital’s ageing population.
The project, which began this autumn, is aimed at residents aged over 60 with no prior history of cardiovascular illness. Participation is entirely voluntary and free of charge.
According to UZ Brussel cardiologist Dr Stijn Lochy, the goal is twofold — to promote prevention through early detection and to explore how health inequalities contribute to cardiovascular disease.
“The ultimate goal is to better understand where health inequalities translate into heart problems, so that prevention and care can be tailored to the reality in Brussels,” Dr Lochy explained.
The screenings will take place inside a specially equipped mobile unit that will visit each of the 19 Brussels municipalities over the coming months. The unit is fitted with modern diagnostic tools that can identify early signs of heart valve disease, irregular heart rhythms, and risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
In addition to the medical checks, participants will be asked to provide anonymised information about their demographic and socio-economic background. This data will help researchers map the relationship between living conditions and cardiovascular health outcomes across different parts of the city.
UZ Brussel has chosen accessible public locations for the screenings, including popular markets, municipal squares, and major transport hubs, to encourage as many people as possible to participate. Specific screening dates and locations will be announced through local community channels and social media in advance.
The next screening day is scheduled for 18 November in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, with further dates to follow in the remaining municipalities throughout winter and early 2026.
The project stands out as the first in Belgium to combine both clinical and social dimensions of heart disease research within the same population group. According to UZ Brussel, this approach will allow researchers to identify not only who is most at risk but also why certain communities experience higher rates of heart-related problems.
Public health experts believe that findings from this project could significantly improve prevention strategies. By analysing both medical and socio-economic data, policymakers may be able to design more targeted interventions for vulnerable populations, particularly in urban areas marked by income inequality and limited access to healthcare.
The study’s final results are expected to be published in 2027, offering what UZ Brussel describes as “a more complete and realistic picture” of cardiovascular health in Brussels.
For now, the mobile medical unit’s arrival signals a promising step toward more inclusive, preventive, and community-based healthcare — one that brings essential medical services directly to the people who need them most.
