Two key projects to target cardiovascular diseases

France-based pharmaceutical company Servier and the China Cardiovascular Association launched two major cardiovascular projects in China, aiming to strengthen the management of cardiovascular diseases in China.

The first project, namely Umbrella project, aims to perfect the risk assessment and long-term management of patients with hypertension complicated by risk factors, ensure the standardization of blood pressure and blood lipid, and continue to help patients with high cardiovascular risk to reduce the threat of cardiovascular problems and death.

The second project, HOPE, is focused on educating and ensuring standardized treatment for patients with heart diseases to improve their quality of life and help reduce their physical, psychological and economic stress.

Huo Yong, vice-president of the China Cardiovascular Alliance and chief physician of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Peking University First Hospital, said "The Umbrella project is in line with the new requirements for blood pressure and blood lipid management in the Healthy China strategic plan. It is focused on continuously carrying out screening, follow-up management and patient education throughout the country."

The project, in combination with academic research and standardized implementation of comprehensive management of patients with hypertension and risk factors at all levels, is optimizing the comprehensive management of blood pressure and blood lipid and providing an umbrella to protect high-risk patients, he said.

Data from the China Cardiovascular Association showed that currently, the number of patients with hypertension in China exceeds 270 million, yet the blood pressure standardized rate is only 15.3 percent.

"The HOPE project, meanwhile, will solve the current dilemma of diagnosis and treatment, promote standardized diagnosis and treatment, give patients scientific education and treatment, and raise public awareness of heart failure," Huo said.

The number of patients with heart failure in China has reached 1 percent of the total population, according to the China Cardiovascular Association.

Stephane Mascarau, general manager of Servier China, said: "Since entering China 40 years ago, Servier China has been caring for patients and providing innovative solutions, helping patients obtain better treatment results through disease cognition, screening diagnosis and standardized treatment. Through the two projects, we hope to provide more convenient and scientific management support for healthcare professionals, and benefit more Chinese patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases."