WHO Unveils New Global Cardiovascular Health Strategies
Geneva, Thursday, 20 March 2025.
The WHO’s new guidelines emphasize prevention, early detection, and integrated care to combat cardiovascular diseases, which claim 17.9 million lives globally each year.
Global Impact and Key Risk Factors
Recent WHO data reveals that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the world’s leading cause of death, with more than four out of five CVD deaths attributed to heart attacks and strokes. Particularly concerning is that one-third of these deaths occur prematurely in people under 70 years of age [1]. Environmental factors, particularly air pollution, have emerged as a significant risk factor, with WHO estimating that nine out of ten people globally breathe air containing high levels of pollutants [2].
Innovative Treatment Approaches
The medical community is advancing treatment strategies through technological innovation. A notable development is the integration of artificial intelligence in lesion assessment and decision-making for coronary interventions [3]. The American College of Cardiology is actively transforming care delivery to community-based models, focusing on implementing AI solutions and developing ambulatory surgery centers to achieve their Quintuple Aim: quality of care, patient satisfaction, team satisfaction, cost-effectiveness, and equitable care [4].
Prevention Through Dietary Strategies
An upcoming webinar scheduled for April 3, 2025, at the University of Granada will address innovative dietary approaches to cardiovascular health. The focus will be on time-restricted eating strategies, which have emerged as a simple dietary approach with higher acceptability and lower burden. The webinar will explore how diet quality relates to lower cardiovascular disease risk, with promising results in co-treating mental health and cardiovascular diseases through nutritional strategies [5].
Implementation Success Stories
A prime example of successful implementation comes from Chicago, where the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital has been recognized for its cardiovascular health initiatives. The hospital has contributed over $1 million toward various American Heart Association campaigns and became the first U.S. hospital to install a hands-only CPR kiosk in 2017. Their efforts have included supporting Illinois’ cardiac emergency response bill (HB 5394), which was signed into law on July 1, 2024 [6].