e-healthcare may help reverse the trend of high cardiovascular disease and obesity in China

The 25th Great Wall International Congress of Cardiology & Asia Pacific Heart Congress & International Congress of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (GW-ICC & APHC & ICCPR 2014) will advocate a patient centered health care model that maximizes the use of limited medical resources so patients can improve their health and quality of life, no matter where they live.

ESC Guidelines on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention key messages from the ESC Congress 2014 and other recommendations to improve cardiovascular health by reducing obesity in China, will also be discussed at GW-ICC & APHC & ICCPR 2014.

“Clearly there is an urgent need to do something to reverse the trend in China where one in five people have cardiovascular disease and smoking and obesity are major issues,” said Professor Dayi Hu, chief of the Heart Institute at the People’s Hospital, Peking University and President of the China Heart Federation.

“The Congress will look at how we can reach the greatest number of people in the most efficient way and will compare electronic health care services to traditional methods, with an emphasis on improving health care quality and establishing a health care system in China which is convenient, safe, effective and affordable. If we can reduce childhood obesity, we would also reduce the risk of hypertension and reduce cardiovascular disease.”

A recent study presented at the ESC Congress 2014 found that obese youths have a nearly six fold risk of hypertension(1). Childhood obesity is on the rise in China, where fast food and soda is replacing healthier food options.

Recently the Chinese government announced it will launch a programme aimed at treating and preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Prof. Hu said encouraging people to exercise and eliminate processed foods and tobacco should be a key component of the programme.

“We must focus on prevention if we are going to reverse this trend and this isn’t always easy to do when a complex culture and history are involved,” said Prof. Hu.

“We need to find effective ways to reach the public so they understand the risks involved in an unhealthy lifestyle and diet. This can be done in a variety of ways, including through a marketing program that emphasizes good health and an electronic health care system that provides more access. We need to make people aware of the risks and understand how to reduce them.”

Professors Panos Vardas and Michel Komajda, Past-Presidents of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), will lead the ESC in China as part of its Global Scientific Activities (GSA) programme.

 “The ESC is very happy to again participate in this international congress and we look forward to examining how eHealthcare can be used in China and in other countries to improve heart health,” said Professor Komajda, “ESC in China” Course Director and GSA Chairman.

More than 500 sessions will cover 18 sub-fields in cardiology. In addition, joint live telecast of TAVR and demonstration of cardiac surgery by experts from a number of cities of America and China will be presented. Prof. Hu said 13,000 delegates from across 30 regions and countries are expected to attend, making it the largest cardiology congress in the Asia Pacific region.

ENDS