Cardiovascular disease remains the top cause of mortality in China, responsible for two in five deaths in the country, according to a report released on Thursday.

Cardiovascular disease accounted for nearly 47 percent of mortalities in rural areas and over 44 percent of deaths in cities in 2019, according to the Annual Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China (2021), which was published by the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases in Beijing.

An estimated 330 million people currently live with some form of cardiovascular illnesses, with strokes, coronary heart disease and heart failure being the most common.

"The prevention and control of cardiovascular disease remains a serious issue, and the turning point has not been reached," the report said.