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INTERNET SYMPOSIUM ON TOBACCO AND THE HEART

An internet symposium entitled Tobacco and the Heart will be featured as part of the 6th International Cardiology Congress on Internet (6CVC). The virtual cardiology congress, organized by the Argentine Federation of Cardiology, is being held from 1 September−30 November, 2009. It is free of charge to health practitioners around the world.

Expertise on tobacco

The Tobacco and the Heart symposium targets health professionals working in cardiovascular (CVD) care. Its aim is to strengthen their recognition of tobacco use as a critical CVD risk factor. It will provide information and training on tobacco control and tobacco-dependence treatment that is relevant to the practice of cardiology. Organized by the Framework Convention Alliance, the InterAmerican Heart Foundation and the World Heart Federation, the symposium is part of a broader set of initiatives to mobilize the heart-health community into taking a strong stand to reduce tobacco use and its impact on health. 

The symposium will explore the main issues in tobacco cessation and control that are relevant to cardiologists. It includes contributions from leading global experts in both tobacco-control advocacy and treatment of tobacco dependence. It will be co-chaired by Dr Eduardo Bianco and Dr Srinath Reddy. Dr Bianco is a Uruguayan cardiologist who is President and founding member of the Centre for Research on the Tobacco Epidemic (Centro del Investigation: CIET). He is a leading champion of tobacco control in Latin America and has received two World Heart Organization World No Tobacco Day Awards and the American Cancer Society’s International Tobacco Control Award for his work. Dr Srinath Reddy is a cardiologist and Chair of the World Heart Federation Foundations’ Advisory Board. He has played an instrumental role in tobacco advocacy in India.

Tobacco cessation and control: “core business” of cardiology

“Smoking is the most significant preventable cause of cardiovascular disease and mortality, and smoking cessation is the single most effective intervention for prevention of cardiovascular disease,” said Dr Bianco. “In spite of this, there are many cardiologists and cardiology societies who do not treat smoking cessation or prevention of exposure to second-hand smoke as part of their ‘core business’.”

Dr Srinath Reddy has long called on cardiologists to give more emphasis to tobacco as a CVD risk factor. He concurs with Dr Bianco, adding: “In some countries, parts of the cardiology community see smoking as a personal lifestyle choice rather than a deadly addiction that is, in itself, a chronic condition. As influential as cardiologists are in the medical and scientific community, and in society as a whole, there is still much untapped potential for us to lead the heart-health community to take a stronger role shaping the policies and medical practice that influence tobacco use.”

Often-neglected topic

“Often when scientific content on tobacco is presented at cardiology congresses, participants show little interest, and choose instead to go to sessions on other types of interventions,” explained Dr Bianco. “In order to attract cardiologists to enroll in the Tobacco and the Heart symposium, we are using a lottery to award reference books on cardiology. This gives an extra incentive to learn about tobacco, but is also intended to reinforce the association between cardiology and tobacco cessation and control.”

Virtual congress: global reach, cost-effective training

The 6CVC will present scientific training material in Spanish, Portuguese and English. The previous virtual cardiology congress held from 1 September−30 November, 2007 had 22,452 participants from 133 countries.  

The virtual congress has a scientific programme developed in thematic units that will include lectures presented by special guests. Symposia are organized by scientific institutions, pharmaceutical and electromedicine industries. Content covers debates on controversies, and includes case discussions, courses and presentation of research works. Presentations will remain accessible through the internet after the Congress is over.

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