ACC Vice President Cathleen Biga, MSN, RN, FACC, at the Sociedad Columbiana de Cardiologia meeting in March.

More than 200 leaders and innovators from government, industry, civil society and academia took part in the 8th World Heart Summit convened by the World Heart Federation (WHF) in Geneva, Switzerland, in May. The Summit focused on "promoting cardiovascular health for all" and opportunities to elevate cardiovascular (CV) disease to the top of the global health agenda.

A diverse group of faculty included Ministers of Health, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), WHF leaders, representatives from patient groups and health care associations like the ACC, specialists in digital health interventions, policy advocates and others, who led discussions on how to address critical topics like Universal Health Coverage, clean air, tobacco control and more.

Addressing the health workforce shortage and meeting the challenge of artificial intelligence – specifically reaping its potential and leveraging the power of digital health interventions – were also a focus, with experts providing insights and case studies tied to digital literacy, health education, workforce recruitment and retention initiatives, etc.

The Summit's opening plenary session reviewed progress on the WHF World Heart Vision 2030 and included remarks by global thought leaders like Ivor Benjamin, MD, FACC (AHA Past President), Monika Arora, MD (NCD Alliance President), Dipti Itchhaporia, MD, MACC (ACC Past President) and Junbo Ge, MD, FACC (Chinese Cardiovascular Association President) on the need for developing an inclusive, society-wide, government-wide approach to cardiovascular health and ensuring health care systems are prepared for future global health threats.

Top: ACC Past President Dipti Itchhaporia, MD, MACC, on stage at the Summit; Bottom: Immediately following the Summit, WHF President Daniel Jose Piñeiro, MD, FACC, had the privilege of a private audience with Pope Francis where he conveyed the importance of cardiovascular health as a fundamental human right.

Additionally, WHF Past President Fausto J. Pinto, MD, PhD, FACC, debuted the organization's first "World Heart Report," providing an in-depth analysis of cardiovascular disease risk and mortality data worldwide using data from the World Health Observatory. The report highlights disparities in care delivery, infrastructure challenges and under-resourcing and includes recommendations to reduce the global burden of cardiovascular disease.

"The data doesn't lie," said Pinto. "This report confirms the serious threat that cardiovascular disease poses all over the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. ... It's vital that countries prioritize rolling out tools and policies to protect people from cardiovascular disease."

The Summit also delved into connection and the importance of communicating better across all sectors and demographics, including working as a team with patients, and renewed a global commitment to address health inequities so that everyone has access to affordable, effective cardiovascular care.

"From health systems' financing to diagnostics and from digital health interventions to communicating and advocating for cardiovascular health, the World Heart Summit was a stimulating space," said WHF President Daniel Jose Piñeiro, MD, FACC. "Sectors joined forces, sparking collaboration, forging partnerships, and mobilizing resources to save lives and improve life."

Among the ACC leaders at the Summit were Jagat Narula MD, DM, PhD, MACC (WHF President-Elect), Richard A. Chazal, MD, MACC (WHF Treasurer), Dipti Itchhaporia, MD, MACC (ACC WHF Strategic Partner) and Eileen M. Handberg, PhD, ARNP, FACC (speaker).

The WHF Summit was held immediately before the United Nations 76th World Health Assembly, which took place May 21-30 and was attended by delegations from all 194 WHO Member States. Next up, the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly takes place in September in New York City and will focus on progress towards global sustainable development goals.

Stay tuned to ACC.org for updates.

Global Snapshots

ACC leaders, including Past President Edward T.A. Fry, MD, MACC, attended CardioAlex in Alexandria, Egypt, in June. The event was also an opportunity to announce the ACC Middle East 2024 conference taking place place in Cairo next October.

Cardiology Editor-in-Chief and ACC Past President John Gordon Harold, MD, MACC, with Irish Cardiac Society President Pascal McKeown, MD, who is also dean of the Queens University Medical School in Belfast.

This update was authored by Cardiology Editor-in-Chief, ACC Past President and WHF Partner's Council Founding Chair John Gordon Harold, MD, MACC.