PREVENTING HEART DISEASE IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPECardiovascular disease is an urgent threat to both health and economic prospects of Eastern Europe. On 9 October 2009, the International Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Southeastern Europe was held in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Banja Luka conference focuses on preventionThe conference was organized by Dr Dusko Vulic, a cardiologist who directs the Heart and Health Foundation in the Republika Srpska and is an Associate Professor at the University of Banja Luka. The conference was co-hosted by the Health and Heart Foundation, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Association of Cardiologists and the Academy of Sciences and Art. Celebrating 10 years of World Heart DayThe conference marked the 10th anniversary of World Heart Day in the region, and was complemented by community World Heart Day activities. President of the Republika Srpska, academician Rajko Kuzmanovic opened the conference, which was held in Serbian and English. Dr Ranko Skrbic, Minister of Health, discussed the use of cardiovascular drugs in the region and Dr Nathan Wong, Professor and Director of the Heart Disease Prevention Programme at the University of California, Irvine (USA) presented guidelines for primary and secondary prevention. Dr Shanthi Mendis of the World Health Organization discussed cost-effective approaches to cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. Research on many aspects of CVD prevention was presented by specialists from neighbouring countries and from the region. Dr Hans Stam in his capacity as Board member of the European Heart Network presented their activities and said: “The event fostered a unique and much-needed exchange between cardiologists, public health specialists, paediatricians, and other medical specialties; this kind of interdisciplinary dialogue is key to effectively preventing heart disease and stroke”. Tackling the top health priority“Death rates from heart disease and stroke are high throughout Europe, but they are worse in Eastern Europe, and case fatality is not falling there as it is elsewhere on the continent,” explained Dr Stam. The Republika Srpska has shown a strong commitment to tackling the problem: in 2000, it formed a National Committee on CVD Prevention. It was early to adopt European Guidelines for CVD Prevention and to develop a national version of HeartScore™, an interactive risk score developed in Europe by the European Society of Cardiology. In 2007, it was the first entity outside of the European Union to sign the European Heart Charter. Under the leadership of Dr Vulic, the Heart and Health Foundation has built a network of about 100 health professionals from different disciplines; it has been instrumental in developing activities to anchor CVD prevention high on the health agenda. Twin Centres programme supports collaborationThe conference in October was a continuation of the collaborative relationship that developed between Drs Vulic and Wong when, in 2009, Dr Vulic was awarded with a World Heart Federation Twin Centres Fellowship which enabled him to spend a year working with Dr Wong at the Heart Disease Prevention Programme at the University of California, Irvine. “We are collaborating now on several research projects,” said Dr Wong, “and hope to plan more joint programmes and conferences. It has been a great experience to visit the region for the first time and learn about the unique challenges and achievements in cardiovascular prevention there. The commitment Dr Vulic and his colleagues have shown in promoting a preventive approach to cardiovascular disease is very impressive and meets an urgent need that is far too often overlooked”. | |||||||
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