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The World Heart Federation (WHF) joins the global health community in welcoming the roll-out of approved COVID-19 vaccines, a ground-breaking scientific achievement with health and social benefits. Millions of doses of vaccines are being administered in more than 50 countries. WHF regards the vaccine as a critical tool in our fight to ward off the […]

Cardiovascular health concerns every living person in the world. From hereditary conditions to lifestyle habits, such as smoking, and societal and environmental contexts, such as air pollution and sedentary systems, our hearts are faced with numerous threats. This is why in each country and community there are doctors, nurses, carers, researchers, campaigners and pioneers for […]

Dear Friends, A year like no other is behind us. The entire world – our governments, economies, and societies – has been tested like never before in our lifetimes. Faced with a global threat and many unknowns, we spent the past ten months fighting the virus and protecting the cardiovascular health of people everywhere. We […]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. They constitute a significant threat to global development, with 75% of related deaths happening in low- and middle-income countries. In addition to the burden of mortality, the number of people living two or more chronic conditions has increased steadily over the past 20 years, resulting […]

Women in communities of African descent are more likely to live in poverty and lack access to health care, as well as to suffer from overweight, obesity and hypertension – all risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD).  Case-in-point is Colombia, where 44 percent of black women find living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including CVD, a […]

WHF is thrilled to announce the winners of the World Heart Awards, which celebrate organizations and individuals who have gone above and beyond in their quest to fight cardiovascular disease and promote heart health around the world. The 2020 winners are: Individual Awards WHF Lifetime Achievement Award Prof Henry Blackburn & Prof Pekka Puska WHF Advocacy […]

Between 8 October – 19 November 2020, the World Heart Federation challenged public health experts from policymaking, international organizations, academia, and the private sector, as well as health providers working on the frontlines, to Rethink the Future of the Cardiovascular Workforce in the 4-part, pandemic-induced webinars series Heart Talks. What emerged were four through-provoking global […]

Geneva (30 November 2020) – WHF Past President Prof Pekka Puska has been awarded with the 2020 WHF Lifetime Achievement Award for his remarkable contribution to the mission of the World Heart Federation and for his prominent role in the global battle against chronic and cardiovascular diseases over the entirety of his illustrious career. Prof […]

Last month, the Lancet NCDI Poverty Commission published a groundbreaking report on noncommunicable diseases and injuries (NCDIs) among the world’s poorest people. The report highlighted the fact that non-communicable diseases & injuries cause more death & disability at every age among the world’s poorest billion than in wealthy countries, and argues that 4.6 million lives could […]

WHF has launched a Photo Competition aimed at highlighting the challenges that people around the world face because of cardiovascular disease (CVD), as well as the actions that people are taking to promote heart health and support those affected by CVD. Photographers are invited to submit one or more photographs depicting the human side of […]

For many, a stroke will be the first sign of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common heart arrhythmia worldwide affecting nearly 33.5 million individuals. However, this number is likely underestimated due to asymptomatic individuals remaining undiagnosed and unaware that their symptoms are a sign of AF. Individuals ≥ 65 years of age are disproportionately affected, […]