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Science & Research

The World Heart Federation works to deliver reliable knowledge on the global burden of cardiovascular disease, and information on how it can be managed and prevented in communities around the world.

a medical professional wearing a hair net and face mask observing a young child's heart health with a stethoscope

World Heart Observatory

The first global data hub for cardiovascular disease

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Global Heart Journal

Our open-access journal, Global Heart, provides a forum for dialogue and education on the prevention, treatment and control of cardiovascular disease worldwide, with a special focus on low resource settings. It publishes research results, points of view and educational material on CVD-related issues.

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Global Study on COVID-19 and CVD

In order to better understand the intersection between cardiovascular disease and COVID-19, the World Heart Federation embarked on a global study which aims to better describe cardiovascular outcomes and identify cardiovascular risk factors associated with poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19.

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Emerging Leaders Programme

The WHF Salim Yusuf Emerging Leaders Programme was created to form and develop a long-term cadre of experts who collaborate, research and act to reduce premature mortality from cardiovascular disease globally. The Programme, developed by Dr Salim Yusuf in 2014, provides training and networking opportunities in cardiovascular health policy and implementation science for healthcare practitioners, researchers, and global health advocates.

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World Congress of Cardiology

From 1950 to today, the World Heart Federation’s World Congress of Cardiology (WCC) has been a key event on the cardiovascular calendar, offering a global perspective on cardiovascular health and bringing together thousands of cardiology professionals from all over the world, with the common goal of reducing the global burden of cardiovascular disease.

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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
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CVD Scorecards

Our CVD Scorecards are designed to track and measure the national response of governments to CVD and monitor progress on implementing CVD prevention and management programmes. They provide a core set of indicators which allow us to understand the epidemiological situation in a country, evaluate the status of CVD programmes, identify policy gaps, and help prioritise advocacy for particular policies or programmes.

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Latest News

Calling attention to the burden of NCDs in children at UNGA78

This is a statement made at the Pan American Health Organization during the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York. Honorable Chair, Distinguished Delegates, On behalf of the American Heart Association, the InterAmerican Heart Foundation, the Interamerican Society of Cardiology, the Coalition for Americas’ Health and the World Heart Federation, we applaud the Pan […]

Rheumatic Heart Disease

Ecuador leads global World Heart Day celebrations

The annual celebrations for World Heart Day 2023, aimed at promoting heart health and advocating for universal access to cardiovascular care, are in full swing in Quito, Ecuador. The comprehensive agenda of activities, organised by the Ecuadorian Society of Cardiology (SEC) in partnership with the World Heart Federation (WHF), encompasses a range of events such […]

#UseHeart movement rallies for change as heart disease continues to claim most lives

GENEVA, 29 September 2023 – This World Heart Day, the World Heart Federation (WHF) is urging all sectors and citizens to join forces and take down cardiovascular disease (CVD) from its “number one killer” position. Conditions of the heart or blood vessels including stroke and heart failure killed more than 20 million people in 2021 […]

WHF at UNGA78 in New York

Health was at the top of the global agenda the third week of September with three UN High-Level Meetings addressing Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention and Response (PPPR), and Tuberculosis. World Heart Federation Board Members Tom Gaziano and Diana Vaca Mcghie led the WHF delegation at the UN General Assembly, advocating for heart […]

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 […]