UK Conference Will Equip Cardiovascular Physicians to Tackle Looming Challenges of an Aging Population

Between 2015 and 2050, the percentage of the world’s population over 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22%, according to the World Health Organization. More people living longer presents an array of healthcare challenges, notably in the field of cardiovascular disease.

“Heart valve disease is going to be the new emerging epidemic challenging cardiovascular specialists in the coming 20 years, largely because valve disease is frequently a disease of the aging population,” says Bernard Prendergast, MD, FRCP, Chair of Cardiology at Cleveland Clinic London.

Valve disease is just one of the topics that will be covered at the conference “Challenges in the Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Disease: A Contemporary Update” in London. Organized by Cleveland Clinic London, the event at the Royal Society of Medicine Sept. 13-14, 2019, will provide a comprehensive update and analysis of state-of-the-art practices in cardiovascular medicine and surgery.

“We are bringing together the best of Cleveland and London expertise and offering a very wide educational portfolio, not only to hospital-based physicians but also to primary care practitioners who have an interest in the cardiovascular field,” says Dr. Prendergast.

The conference will feature six sessions:

Session 1: Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease – This session will include such topics as risk prediction and lipid management, the benefits of exercise, new guidelines and treatments for hypertension, and new targeted treatments aimed at high levels of lipoprotein (a).

Session 2: Coronary Artery Disease – Experts will provide the latest information on clinical diagnosis and noninvasive imaging, the role of stress echocardiography, percutaneous coronary interventions and coronary artery bypass grafting.

Session 3: Valve Disease – Following an update on the epidemic by Dr. Prendergast, leading cardiologists will discuss a range of related topics, including cardiac CT, transcatheter aortic valve interventions, aortic valve surgery and robotically assisted mitral valve repair.

Session 4: Aortic Disease – Subjects covered during this session will include screening and pre-emptive treatment for aortic aneurysm, surgery for aortic root dilation, novel surgical approaches to aortic thoracic disease and aortic endovascular techniques.

Session 5: Heart Failure – Experts will provide insight on the latest advances in diagnostic imaging, modern medical management, device therapy, transcatheter options and myectomy in the treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Session 6: Rhythm Disorders – This session will present up-to-date information on atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, contemporary indications for pacemakers and unexplained syncope.

The teaming of experts from Cleveland Clinic’s main campus and Cleveland Clinic London at this conference is a prelude to the collaboration among physicians that will occur when Cleveland Clinic London’s 185-bed hospital opens in 2021. Cardiovascular medicine and cardiothoracic surgery will be among the hospital’s core services.

“We will build on the heritage of Cleveland Clinic in terms of excellence in cardiovascular care,” says Olaf Wendler, MD, PhD, FRCS, Chair of the Heart & Vascular Institute at Cleveland Clinic London. “We will take the model from main campus and shape it to the unique needs of London and the United Kingdom. By doing so, we hope to improve outcomes in patient care.”

“We look forward to sharing with colleagues in London and from the EU our ethic of innovating change and finding better ways of caring for patients, preserving great physician practice through research and education, and ensuring untouchable high-quality care, safety and outcomes,” adds Lars Svensson, MD, PhD, Chair of Cleveland Clinic’s Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute, who will be speaking at the conference.

Full conference details and registration information are available here.