ĐÀ NẴNG — More than 2,000 people including 300 speakers will attend the 16th National Congress of Cardiology in the central city today and tomorrow.

Chairman of the Việt Nam National Heart Association (VNHA), Dr Nguyễn Lân Hiếu said at a press conference the congress would hear reports on the latest therapies of heart diseases, cardiology treatment of pregnant women, hypertension control and prevention, comprehensive approach to cardiology for the elderly as well as nursing programme for cardiology patients.

Hiếu said the event would also include sessions for young doctors to meet with foreign experts and doctors along with training sessions for local medical staff.

“We offer prizes for the best reports of the young cardiologists at the congress with an aim of encouraging continued research in heart treatment and care. It’s also a chance for experts to share knowledge and updated information on the heart disease treatment at hospitals nationwide,” Hiếu said.

“Local doctors and medical staffs will join training courses with senior experts and top surgeons to study on new treatments and techniques,” he said.

VNHA’s general secretary, Phạm Mạnh Hùng said Việt Nam had seen an alarming increase in cases of hypertension and heart disease with an average of 200,000 dying of cardiology-related disease each year.

Hùng said Việt Nam had achieved rapid progress in cardiology surgery, and the country would host the ASEAN Cardiology Congress in 2022.

According to VNHA, about 25 per cent of the Vietnamese population aged 25 and over suffered from hypertension and heart disease.

Hùng said the increase is due to over-consumption of fatty food and alcohol, while the country lacks basic understanding of cardiovascular health and hypertension in communities.

The two-day event also includes free heart and hypertension check-ups for 400 poor people in Đà Nẵng and a mass walkathon for a healthy cardiology community.

In Đà Nẵng, around 450 people out of 1,000 participating in a survey proved to have high blood pressure, while 52 per cent of people were found to have hypertension when they came for a health check at local health centres.

The central city has been developing a 200-bed cardiology centre with investment of US$11.23 million for cardiology and heart disease treatment for the central and central highlands region. — VNS