Many new cardiovascular disease treatment methods promise to be applied in Vietnam

Increased cardiovascular diseases in the community

Cardiovascular disease is the world’s leading cause of death. In Vietnam, according to statistics from the Ministry of Health, each year cardiovascular disease kills about 200,000 people (accounting for 33% of deaths), and the trend of death due to this disease is increasing.

Cardiovascular disease is trending at a younger age, appearing in people of working age. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease are high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, drinking alcohol…

Sharing at FV Hospital 2024 Annual Cardiology Conference, Prof.Dr.BS. Huynh Van Minh – Chairman of the Vietnam Heart Association – said that according to statistics from the World Health Organization, Vietnam is in the high blood pressure zone with a rate of 30-33%. At the same time, the proportion of the population that is obese and has high cholesterol (blood fat) is at the same level and is even higher in women. Meanwhile, high blood pressure increases the risk of death from cardiovascular disease by three times compared to people without the disease.

Also according to Prof.Dr.BS. Huynh Van Minh, in addition to being in a high blood pressure area, Vietnam is also recording myocardial infarction and stroke, two prominent complications of hypertension, occurring in young people, with cases of myocardial infarction. myocardial infarction is only 35 years old. In particular, stroke tends to be higher than myocardial infarction, unlike European countries where the opposite trend is common. This situation partly comes from the patient’s lifestyle: unhealthy eating, alcohol use, stress…

From the perspective of an endocrinologist, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Bich Dao – Vice President of the Vietnam Endocrinology and Diabetes Association said that according to statistics from diabetic patients treated with health insurance , cardiovascular disease is one of the leading complications (accounting for 34%) of this group of patients. The majority of type 2 diabetes patients in Vietnam have high and very high risk of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is currently a common complication and creates a burden of morbidity, mortality as well as costs for patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, early prevention of cardiovascular complications in these patients is important. very important.

Potential for application of new diagnostic and treatment methods in Vietnam

Gathering speakers from domestic and international professors and cardiologists, this year’s annual cardiology conference of FV Hospital with the theme “Cardiovascular treatment: present and future” introduced New knowledge and methods in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases.

Regarding peripheral artery disease (a condition of atherosclerosis in the limbs, usually the lower limbs) causing ischemia, which can lead to necrosis, Associate Professor. Dr. Doctor. Edward TC Choke – Senior Consultant, Singapore Sengkang General Hospital introduced the technology to remove atherosclerotic plaques in peripheral arteries using laser with the Auryon system. The Auryon system is indicated for use in catheter-free surgery to remove atherosclerosis, treat infrainguinal stenosis and occlusion, including in-stent restenosis, and possibly remove calcified plaques. The clinical results are very positive, suitable for patients with severe peripheral vascular disease.

This is a new treatment technique that has not yet been deployed in Vietnam, different from the common treatment methods applied for many years, which are using drugs, placing stents or curettage of atheroma. This technique is used by Dr. Dr. Ho Minh Tuan – Head of Cardiology Department at FV Hospital assessed it as important and could soon be deployed in Vietnam.

Prof. BS. Asri Bin Said – Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Malaysia Sarawak gave a presentation on the technique of percutaneous aortic valve replacement (TAVI). Aortic valve stenosis is a condition in which the heart valve cannot open completely, obstructing blood flow from the heart to the body. The disease has a high risk of death and is increasingly common as the population’s lifespan increases, accounting for up to 30% of people over 70 years old. The traditional method is open surgery, but for elderly patients, open surgery has a high risk of failure.

TAVI technique has helped replace heart valves using endoscopic methods, opening up opportunities to save the lives of more patients with valve stenosis, especially elderly patients. “TAVI is suitable for cases aged 65-75. The lifespan of TAVI valves is good at 10 years and is as good if not better than surgical biological valves”, Prof. BS. Asri Bin Said emphasized.

TAVI technique is currently deployed at several major cardiovascular treatment facilities in Vietnam, including FV Hospital. The oldest patient to have this procedure performed at FV is 83 years old.

In cardiovascular treatment, intravascular imaging also plays an important role. PhD.BS. Ho Minh Tuan, Head of the Cardiology Department at FV Hospital shared practical information about the application of IVUS (intravascular ultrasound) and OCT (optical intravascular imaging) techniques at FV Hospital. Currently, FV is one of not many medical facilities in Vietnam that has applied this technique.

Also related to imaging in the field of cardiology, Dr. Nguyen Van Te, Head of Nuclear Medicine Department, FV Hospital presented the application of nuclear imaging in the treatment of cardiomyopathy. Accordingly, the use of radioscopy allows doctors to non-invasively evaluate physiology and heart function and provide additional reference information for surgical techniques.

Share with Dan Tri, PhD.BS. Ho Minh Tuan said that the reports at this year’s conference provide an overview of the application of new treatment methods for cardiovascular disease. Among them, there are methods and tools that have been applied to improve survival and increase the quality of life of patients. Some of the methods mentioned in this conference will be applied in just a few months.

Associate Professor, PhD. Pham Nguyen Vinh – Vice President of the Vietnam Heart Association assessed that the new diagnostic methods and treatment techniques presented at the conference can be completely applied in Vietnam. Because Vietnamese doctors have the ability to absorb knowledge and techniques very quickly when sent to study in developed medical countries such as the US, France, Singapore…