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Western Pacific

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the Western Pacific, accounting for nearly 40% of all deaths.

The region is also home to the world’s largest burden of rheumatic heart disease, which remains a major health issue in low- and middle-income countries in the Western Pacific Region, as well as among Indigenous communities in Australia and New Zealand.

5.7M

people die from CVD every year in the Western Pacific

CVD is the number one cause of death in the region

82,000

people die from rheumatic heart disease every year in the region

Latest News

Bias and inadequate treatment threaten heart health for millions facing obesity and CVD risk, warns World Heart Federation

GENEVA, 17 May 2025: Stigma and misunderstanding of obesity are preventing people from receiving adequate treatment for the disease, which is increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), a new report from the World Heart Federation warns today. The “World Heart Report 2025 – Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease” launched at the World Heart Summit today, […]

Obesity

World-renowned Researcher Receives “Excellence Award for Hypertension Risk Reduction” – World Hypertension Day 17 May 2025

Professor Prabhakaran Dorairaj is the Executive Director of the Centre for Chronic Disease Control, New Delhi, a Distinguished Professor of the Public Health Foundation of India and President-Elect of the World Heart Federation. He spoke about receiving the “Excellence Award for Hypertension Risk Reduction,” his belief in a better future addressing a condition that caused […]

Taking action on homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia 

Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a rare inherited condition that causes dangerously high levels of LDL cholesterol from birth, leading to severe cardiovascular complications and early mortality. Despite affecting approximately 1 in 300,000 people worldwide, fewer than 5% of individuals with HoFH receive an accurate and timely diagnosis. Without intervention, children with HoFH often show […]

HoFH

Saving lives from often silent but serious pulmonary hypertension – World Hypertension Day

Today is #PulmonaryHypertensionDay, a moment to raise awareness about pulmonary hypertension (PH). Because its early symptoms, including shortness of breath, chest pain, and dizziness, are frequently misunderstood, PH is frequently diagnosed only in advanced stages. PH, wherein the arteries carrying blood to the lungs develop increased blood pressure, affects both the lungs and the heart. […]

Pulmonary hypertension

Air Pollution

Air Pollution

Chagas Disease

Chagas Disease

Cholesterol

Cholesterol

COVID-19

COVID-19

Diabetes

Diabetes

Healthy Diet

Healthy Diet

Heart Failure

Heart Failure

Hypertension

Hypertension

Obesity

Obesity

Prevention

Prevention

Rheumatic Heart Disease

Rheumatic Heart Disease

Tobacco

Tobacco

Women & CVD

Women & CVD

The most common heart attack symptom, in both men and women, is some type of chest pain, pressure or discomfort. But chest pain is not always the most noticeable symptom, especially in women, who are more likely to experience it as pressure or tightness in the chest. They may even have no chest pain at […]

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