Dr. Tran Quang Khanh of Cho Ray Hospital's Department of Interventional Cardiology stated at the Cardiology Center's scientific conference on 13/9 that heart failure is a severe disease with a poor prognosis. Studies indicate a 5-year mortality rate for heart failure patients of about 40-50%, depending on the patient group and study period. According to him, this rate surpasses that of many types of cancer.
Heart failure often results from various cardiovascular, metabolic, and renal diseases, most commonly hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. When these underlying conditions remain uncontrolled for extended periods, heart function can decline.
Dr. Ly Van Chieu, Director of the Cardiology Center at Cho Ray Hospital, noted a global increase in heart failure patients, paralleling the rise in underlying diseases and an aging population. At Cho Ray Hospital specifically, while the general outpatient volume increases by about 7% annually, the number of heart failure patients returning for follow-up appointments rises by approximately 15% each year. These figures are hospital data and do not represent the overall prevalence of heart failure in the community.
Hypertension is a significant risk factor that often progresses silently. Patients may not experience symptoms, leading to complacency, self-discontinuation of medication, or irregular use.
"Many individuals with hypertension stop taking their medication or take it inconsistently because they feel no symptoms. This is one reason why blood pressure is not well-controlled, leading to complications," Dr. Chieu said.
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Doctors performing an intervention on a patient at Cho Ray Hospital. Photo: Hospital provided |
Dr. Khanh advises everyone to undergo regular health check-ups, especially those at risk such as individuals with hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, overweight, obesity, or a history of heart disease. Depending on the risk, doctors may order an electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, blood tests, or biomarkers to detect abnormalities.
He emphasized that many people only seek medical attention when their condition has advanced, despite early identification of risk groups being straightforward. Current heart failure treatment aims not only to alleviate symptoms but also to reduce mortality, decrease hospitalizations, and slow disease progression. Patients require early treatment, with medications tailored to the cause and underlying conditions, rather than waiting for severe symptoms to appear.
Dr. Pham Thanh Viet, Director of Cho Ray Hospital, reported that cardiovascular disease causes about 19 million deaths globally each year and approximately 200,000 deaths in Vietnam, accounting for nearly one-third of all fatalities. Around three-quarters of these cardiovascular disease deaths are linked to coronary artery disease and stroke.
According to Dr. Viet, urbanization and lifestyle changes are contributing to a trend of cardiovascular disease affecting younger individuals. The hospital has observed cases of patients developing the disease before turning 30, and even around 20 years old.
Le Phuong
