World Heart Federation

HIGHLIGHTS

Interview with incoming President Professor Sidney C. Smith, Jr, MD

The World Heart Federation is honoured to welcome Professor Sidney C. Smith Jr, MD as President, succeeding Professor Pekka Puska who served in 2009–2010. Professor Smith was first appointed as a Board member in 2003, and in 2005 became Chairman of the World Heart Federation Scientific Advisory Board. His term as President began on 1 January 2011 and will end on 31 December 2012.

Non-Communicable diseases virtually absent from major international development forum: time to pay Attention to the Silent Killer

The virtual absence of cardiovascular disease and the other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) from the agenda of the European Development Days, a global forum under the auspices of the European Commission, was a disappointing development in light of the upcoming United Nations (UN) Summit on NCDs to be held in September 2011.

IN THIS ISSUE

World Congress of Cardiology 2012: Dubai, 18–21 April 2012

Join us at the next World Congress of Cardiology (WCC) Scientific Sessions, taking place from 18–21 April 2012 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Find out more and keep informed of all the latest congress news and updates.

Health before profit: governments rally to protect public health

In November 2010, governments around the world gathered in Uruguay to advance the policies that reduce deaths caused by tobacco. Attending the Fourth Conference of the Parties of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), they agreed on how to implement key measures to help stem the tobacco epidemic. 

Highlights from the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2010

The American Heart Association’s (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2010 were held recently in Chicago, Illinois from 13–17 November. A notable Presidential address and many late-breaking clinical trial presentations contributed to the highly successful meeting held by one of the World Heart Federation’s largest members.

The Toronto Charter: Global Advocacy for Physical Activity

To unite efforts for change in global physical activity levels, GAPA and the organizing Committee of the 3rd International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health created and launched the Toronto Charter for Physical Activity at the congress last May, resulting in its ratification. The Charter was initiated in response to a need for policy change to prevent the burden associated with physical inactivity.

World Heart Day 2010: building wellness in the workplace

Record engagement: September 26th of 2010 marked the second successful year of the World Heart Day theme, Workplace Wellness. With record participation and engagement of members and employers, the awareness campaign, entitled “I work with Heart”, demonstrated that the workplace is an ideal setting to increase knowledge of the risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

Global Corporate Challenge:  help your employees to be more physically active

The Global Corporate Challenge (GCC) is a unique, fun and incredibly effective way to get employees more active by motivating them to walk over 10,000 steps per day. Physical inactivity is one of the four main risk factors for cardiovascular disease and with most of us spending more than half of our waking hours at work, the workplace is the ideal setting to encourage heart-healthy behaviour as demonstrated by World Heart Day activities in 2009 and 2010.  

Latin American cardiologists take a stand on tobacco

Tobacco’s impact on cardiovascular health was high on the agenda of the recent CardioSur2010 congress. Organized by the South American Cardiology Society (SSC), CardioSur2010 highlighted tobacco cessation and control and mobilized regional cardiology societies to stand behind strong tobacco control.

Atrial fibrillation in Europe: How AWARE are you? A call to action on atrial fibrillation in Europe

On 23 November 2010 the Atrial Fibrillation (AF) AWARE partnership issued an urgent call to action for European-wide improvements to patients’ health and reductions in cost to national health systems through the launch of a new report - AF in Europe – How AWARE are you? This report demonstrated that the lives of thousands of patients with AF are at risk due to poor diagnosis, failure to follow treatment guidelines, lack of quality information for patients and unnecessary costs to individuals and healthcare systems in Europe.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS 2010

11-13 February  -  Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

Pan Arab Hypertension (HTN) 

02-05 March  -  Muscat, Oman

Gulf Heart Association Annual Meeting

10-12 March  -  Cartagena de Indias, Columbia

XXIII Interamerican Congress of Cardiology 

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