About 2,000 leading heart experts and doctors from the USA, France, Japan, China and some ASEAN member countries, along with representatives from over 60 prestigious domestic and international pharmaceutical companies, are gathering at the Furama Resort Danang for the 14^th National Cardiovascular Conference.  The event, which is being held from 12 - 14 October, takes “Cardiology in the New Era - From Bench Side to Community” as its theme.

Speaking at the opening of the event, the Chairman of the Viet Nam National Heart Association, Mr Pham Gia Khai, said that cardiovascular disease has become a burden on society because it is one of the leading causes of death and disability in Viet Nam, and in the world as a whole.  The cost of treating this disease worldwide amounts to hundreds of billions of USD per year, he added.  More than 17.5 million people worldwide die of cardiovascular-related diseases every year, and Viet Nam is seeing a significant increase in the number of people with the diseases.  The proportion of Vietnamese people aged 25 and above with high blood pressure is 21.1%.

An overview of the conference

Today, 13 October, the participants are watching live surgeries on cardiac catheterisation interventions which are being performed at the Da Nang General Hospital.

Within the framework of the conference, over 1,000 heart doctors and experts, along with members of the city’s Youth Union, took part in a walk for community heart health at the Eastern Sea Park on Saturday.  The aim was to raise public awareness of cardiovascular disease which causes so many deaths around the world.

The walk begins