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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

79th World Health Assembly – joint event on Closing the Gap in Cardiovascular Health: Delivering Prevention through National Plans, Primary Care, and Integrated Action

WHF President Professor Jagat Narula’s opening speech at the 79th World Heath Assembly side-event in Geneva on “Closing the Gap in Cardiovascular Health: Delivering Prevention through National Plans, Primary Care, and Integrated Action,” organised by the World Heart Federation and MSD. My dear colleagues—Good afternoon. On behalf of the World Heart Federation, it is my profound […]

79th World Health Assembly – joint event on Addressing Obesity to Reduce the Global Burden of Cardiovascular Disease

WHF President Professor Jagat Narula’s opening speech at the 79th World Heath Assembly side-event in Geneva on “Addressing Obesity to Reduce the Global Burden of Cardiovascular Disease,” organised by the World Heart Federation and the National Heart Foundation of Australia, with support from Health and Wellbeing Queensland, the Queensland Government, and Deakin University.   Dear […]

Most children have zero access to life-saving cardiovascular care, says new report from World Heart Federation

GENEVA, 16 May 2026: Over 90% of children in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) live in paediatric heart health “deserts” with no access to timely care for congenital heart disease (CHD), according to a new report from the World Heart Federation. The “World Heart Report on Congenital Heart Disease” launched at the World Heart Summit […]

Congenital Heart Disease

€500 Billion Disease Burden: EU Leaders Urged to Protect Investment in Cancer and Cardiovascular Health

Joint Appeal to EU Leaders to Keep Health at the Core of EU Priorities Brussels, 20 April 2026 – The European cardiovascular health and cancer communities have issued a direct appeal to EU Heads of State and Government to make health investment a sustained priority ahead of their European Council (EUCO) Summit on 23–24 April. […]

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 […]

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