The 27th ASEAN Federation of Cardiology Congress (2023 AFCC) is slated to take place from November 2 to 5 in Hanoi with the theme “Cardiovascular Intersection: Challenges and Opportunities.”

"The congress is expected to attract more than 2,000 local and foreign delegates, including 300 leading cardiovascular experts from countries with advanced medicine from around the world and the ASEAN region," said Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Quang, Secretary General of the Vietnam Society of Cardiology.

The event will focus on the management of cardiovascular disease in the context of multiple comorbidities. "The management will be carried out thanks to new advanced interventions and technologies, artificial intelligence, telemedicine, and by collaborating with other developed foreign partners," Quang said.

Doctors at Hanoi Heart Hospital are operating on a cardiovascular patient. Photo: VNA

In addition to discussions on cardiovascular interventions, echocardiography, and arrhythmia treatments, AFCC 2023 will feature 80 scientific sessions, 750 abstracts, and in-depth scientific sessions with the participation of experts from the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

"The 27th Congress will be a great opportunity for doctors in Vietnam and the region to exchange and update techniques in many fields related to cardiology," Quang stressed. 

He cited the 2022 Global Burden of Disease report, which shows cardiovascular disease has become the leading cause of death worldwide. It claims 19.5 million lives each year, accounting for more than 30% of deaths from all causes.

"The incidence and mortality from cardiovascular disease are increasing rapidly in low- and lower-middle-income countries (accounting for 75% of total deaths), including ASEAN member countries, which is worrying," Quang said.

Citing data from the World Heart Federation, he estimated that about four million people in the ASEAN region die from cardiovascular disease each year. In Vietnam alone, about 200,000 people die each year from cardiovascular disease, according to the Ministry of Health's statistics, accounting for 33% of deaths. The disease burden and costs have also increased significantly.

"Over time, Vietnam's cardiovascular operation has made much progress and reached the world level by applying many advanced techniques, comparable to other countries worldwide. However, Vietnam still needs to learn from the experience of developed countries to apply the latest scientific achievements in the treatment of cardiovascular patients," the Secretary General said.

This is the second time the AFCC has been held in Hanoi. "The event is also an opportunity to spread health messages to people in the fight against cardiovascular diseases in Vietnam, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of cardiovascular health care for Vietnamese people," Quang stressed.