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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

Turning the Tide on NCDs: Prioritizing Cardiovascular Health Now

This statement was delivered by the World Heart Federation under agenda item 13.1 – Noncommunicable Diseases – at the Seventy-Eighth World Health Assembly. Honourable Chair, Distinguished Delegates, The World Heart Federation urges bold political action to address cardiovascular disease – the world’s leading, yet most preventable, health threat. WHF calls on Member States to prioritize […]

Noncommunicable Diseases

Elevating NCDs in the Global Health Security Agenda

This statement was delivered by the World Heart Federation under agenda item 17.1 – WHO’s Work in Health Emergencies – at the Seventy-Eighth World Health Assembly.   Honourable Chair, Distinguished Delegates, People Living with Noncommunicable Diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease and diabetes, face significant challenges in emergency settings due to strained health systems and disrupted services. […]

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 […]

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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