World Heart Podcast

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Dr. Raul Santos

Editor-in-Chief, Global Heart Journal & Preventive Cardiologist, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Dr. Jagat Narula

President, World Heart Federation; Executive Vice President & Chief Academic Officer, University of Texas Health Houston, USA

 

In this episode of the Global Heart Podcast, host Pablo Perez, Senior Science Advisor at the World Heart Federation, welcomes two esteemed leaders in cardiovascular research—Dr. Raul Santos, the newly appointed Editor-in-Chief of Global Heart, and Dr. Jagat Narula, the new President of the World Heart Federation. Together, they discuss their vision for advancing cardiovascular research globally, the role of Global Heart in scientific dissemination, and the importance of implementation science in addressing heart disease, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

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Key Takeaways:

Vision for Global Heart Journal

• Global Heart aims to be an inclusive platform, amplifying research from underrepresented regions while maintaining high scientific standards.
• A revitalized editorial board will combine emerging and established experts to ensure quality and accessibility.
• Efforts will be made to increase the journal’s visibility through digital platforms and social media.
• Strengthening partnerships with international organizations to promote cardiovascular health globally.

Cardiovascular Research in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)

• Dr. Santos emphasizes the need for epidemiological and implementation research to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world application.
• Research on LP(a) and novel cholesterol-lowering treatments should consider accessibility and affordability challenges in LMICs.
• Dr. Narula stresses the role of non-specialist healthcare workers, including primary care physicians and nurses, in cardiovascular disease prevention and management.

Innovations in Cardiovascular Health Research

• Advances in CT imaging and AI-driven diagnostics offer new opportunities but must be adapted for low-resource settings.
• The Emerging Leaders Program supports the next generation of researchers and clinicians to drive impactful, locally relevant cardiovascular research.
• Digital health, mobile health (mHealth), and AI-based interventions are crucial for delivering scalable, cost-effective cardiovascular care.

Strengthening Global Cardiovascular Research

• • Prioritizing equity in research access and funding to support scientists in underserved regions.
  • Implementation research should focus on practical applications of existing treatments, ensuring that proven therapies like statins are widely available before newer, expensive interventions are considered.
  • Addressing social and environmental determinants such as air pollution, stress, and lifestyle factors linked to urbanization.

Global Cardiovascular Research: The Future

Both experts highlight the shift towards precision population health, where interventions are tailored to specific communities. The goal is to promote sustainable, evidence-based strategies that prevent and manage heart disease globally.