Cardiovascular disease remains Vietnam’s leading health burden

Alarmingly, a heart attack occurs every two seconds worldwide, while someone suffers a stroke every three seconds.

These statistics were highlighted at an annual international cardiology scientific conference organized by the National Heart Institute at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi on Saturday.

Dr. Dao Xuan Co, director of the hospital, said that mortality rates from cardiovascular conditions are higher in Southeast Asia than in Europe.

In Vietnam, about one in four adults suffers from hypertension, while the prevalence of diabetes has tripled in the past decade.

The number of patients with heart failure is projected to reach two million by 2030.

He emphasized that early prevention and screening are critical to reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease and other major health challenges.

“Artificial intelligence, next-generation cardiovascular imaging, precision medicine, and big data are completely transforming the way we diagnose and treat heart disease,” Dr. Co said.

Globally, innovative approaches are already showing results.

In South Korea, a hip-worn device has reduced hospitalizations for heart failure by 20 percent, while in the United States, AI helps predict heart attack risks five to seven years in advance.

Singapore is building a national cardiovascular data network connecting all healthcare facilities, while Japan and European countries have cut mortality rates by 40 percent through proactive prevention.

To achieve similar outcomes in Vietnam, experts call for the development of a national cardiovascular prevention ecosystem, incorporating AI for screening and disease management.

Early prevention must remain the top priority, followed by advances in treatment techniques to raise the survival rate of heart attack patients to European standards.

At Bach Mai Hospital, Dr. Co announced a plan to establish Vietnam’s first cardiovascular innovation center at the National Heart Institute.

The center will prioritize human resources, infrastructure, and cutting-edge equipment to support early prevention strategies and breakthroughs in cardiovascular treatment techniques.