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Guidance & Recommendations

The World Heart Federation supports the development of policies that have a positive impact on people’s heart health. Our roadmaps, policy briefs and position papers can be adapted to different contexts and are regularly updated based on the latest available evidence.

CVD Roadmaps

Our Roadmaps are designed and developed by international teams of experts who together identify challenges and offer solutions on specific topics impacting cardiovascular mortality. They can serve as models for regions and countries to develop their own Roadmaps and create or update their national non-communicable disease action plans. They offer a framework to bring together stakeholders with the objective of determining, prioritizing and implementing solutions to reduce premature CVD deaths in any context.

Atrial Fibrillation
Chagas Disease
Cholesterol
CVD in People Living with Diabetes
Digital Health in Cardiology
Heart Failure
Hypertension
Rheumatic Heart Disease
Secondary Prevention
Tobacco Control
Learn more

Policy Briefs

Our policy briefs present concise summaries of information that can help readers understand and make informed decisions about policies related to cardiovascular disease, associated risk factors and determinants of health. They provide objective summaries of relevant research, outline existing global policies, suggest possible approaches and argue for courses of action that governments should take when creating or considering policies to foster healthy environments in their country or region.

WHF Policy Brief on Front-of-Pack Labelling
Clean Air, Smart Cities, Healthy Hearts
E-cigarettes: A New Threat for Cardiovascular Health
The Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Cardiovascular Health: Myths and Measures

 

Position Papers

Our position papers reflect our policy positions on a wide range of CVD-related issues. They are supported by scientific studies published in recognized journals and have a rigorous review and approval process. These papers generally include a review of data available on a specific subject, an evaluation on its relationship to overall cardiovascular disease science, and WHF recommendations on the basis of that evaluation within the context of global public health policy.

The Case for the Digital Transformation of Circulatory Health
Improving Access to Essential Medicines for All People: A Call to Action
Preventing the Next Pandemic: The Case for Investing in Circulatory Health

Latest News

World Heart Federation announces new branded digital series, Beats of Change, to be produced by BBC StoryWorks

Can we change the future of heart health? Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for nearly one-third of all deaths globally, affecting hundreds of millions of people each year. Yet while its impact is widespread, it is not uniform. Disparities in access to care, prevention, and treatment mean that certain communities face worse outcomes. Despite this, […]

Emerging Leaders Programme 2025: Applications are now open

Applications are now open for the Emerging Leaders Programme 2025, which will focus on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the field of cardiovascular disease (CVD), with an emphasis on Implementation Science. Now in its eleventh year, the WHF Emerging Leaders Programme provides training and networking opportunities in cardiovascular health policy and implementation research for healthcare practitioners, […]

Shaping a Stronger Global Plan of Action on Climate Change and Health: Key Recommendations for Impact

Agenda Item 22 – Climate Change and Health This constituency statement was led and delivered by the World Heart Federation, on behalf of 10 organisations, at the 156th session of the WHO Executive Board.   Constituency Statement This statement is made by the World Heart Federation on behalf of the Global Alliance for Tobacco Control, […]

Climate Change

Acting on Pollution for Better Cardiovascular Health

Agenda Item 20: The impact of chemicals, waste and pollution on human health This statement was delivered by the World Heart Federation at the 156th session of the WHO Executive Board   Honourable Chair, Distinguished Delegates, We thank the Director-General for the report and applaud Member States for their recognition of pollution as a risk […]

Air Pollution

All Topics

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 […]