- Angina affects more than 100 million people globally.[1]
- Angina has a negative impact on quality of life and leads to a 3-fold higher risk of disability,[2]5-fold higher risk of job loss,5 and 4-fold higher risk of depression.[3]
- 43% of angina patients remain underrecognized.[4]
- 60% of angina patients are not receiving an optimal therapy.[5]
- The Covid-19 pandemic caused a significant reduction (-40%) in access to interventional procedures due to an overload in hospitals.[6]
Paris, France, 19 April 2021 – The World Heart Federation (WHF), the principal representative body for the global cardiovascular (CV) community, Servier, an international pharmaceutical group, and Global Heart Hub (GHH), the principal association for patients with CV disease, will launch “Use Heart to Act Now on Angina” on April 20.
This worldwide campaign aims to raise public awareness about the symptoms of angina, which are often underestimated. The official launch of the campaign will take place during a webinar run by WHF President, Prof. Fausto Pinto, on April 20 at 14:00 CEST. The webinar will leverage learnings from the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic, emphasizing that now, more than ever, it is necessary to continue to focus on heart health and that consulting your doctor promptly is key to positive health outcomes.
Angina affects more than 100 million people globally
More than 100 million people globally are affected and the huge impact of angina on the quality of life of patients includes consequences such as disability,[6] job loss,[7] and depression.3 As angina manifests in a variety of ways, the symptoms may be hard to recognize, and risk being attributed to stress, menopause, or digestive issues.
The incidence and prevalence of patients with angina is expected to increase in the coming decade as a result of an aging population, the obesity epidemic, the greater use of life-prolonging therapies, and better management of acute coronary syndromes.[8]
“Use Heart to Act Now on Angina”, is a worldwide campaign to improve disease awareness, facilitate timely detection of angina patients, and implement optimal angina management.
Angina patients often remain underdiagnosed and undertreated. It is essential for early warning signs to be recognized in time by both health professionals and patients alike.
Elsa Steo, WomenHeart Ambassador 2021, stated: “I was really lucky. I saw a new, young doctor who took my symptoms very seriously, and did an EKG. He didn’t have a lot to compare to, but he didn’t like what he saw, so he sent me directly for blood tests and arranged an appointment with a cardiologist. After further investigation, they found I had three blocked arteries, one of which was 100% blocked. To this day, I can’t be grateful enough to my primary care doctor for reacting so quickly.”
This is why the World Heart Federation, Servier and WHF’s Member organization, the Global Heart Hub, are forging a path in the fight to address the urgency of angina symptoms, its potential consequences, and necessary care. “Use Heart to Act Now on Angina” is a new joint initiative that brings together the latest medical perspectives and patient views in order to ensure that we take angina seriously.
Available in six languages (Chinese, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and English), the international awareness campaign “Use Heart to Act Now on Angina” will be deployed on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram throughout April to September 2021.
Samuele Doratori, Head of Cardiovascular, Global Medical and Patient Affairs at Servier:
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, an excess mortality resulting from cardiovascular diseases has been reported. As a health actor deeply involved in cardiovascular diseases, this crisis has reinforced our responsibility in providing relevant medical education for the management of these conditions, such as angina. Servier’s participation in this awareness initiative, conducted with WHF and the GHH, shows the Group’s strong mobilization to improve the lives of patients with chronic cardiovascular diseases.”
Fausto Pinto, World Heart Federation President: “Cardiovascular disease presents itself in many ways including, angina. Symptoms of angina often go unheeded, can vary widely, and often manifest differently in men and women. WHF welcomes partnerships such as this one which are crucial for pooling knowledge and deploying experience to help beat cardiovascular disease – the world’s number one killer – claiming more than 18 million lives around the world each year.”
Neil Johnson, Director, Development & Strategy, Global Heart Hub: “Angina is a clear symptom of an underlying heart problem, and that’s why the Global Heart Hub wants to empower patients to Use Heart, connect with their health care provider and Act Now on Angina. We need to increase public awareness of angina, and encourage early detection and diagnosis, so that optimal management can be achieved and the impact on quality of life can be minimized.”
To participate in the webinar on April 20, please click here.
More information on the campaign is available here.
More information about angina at servier.com
About World Heart Federation
A leader and convener in global cardiovascular health, the World Heart Federation champions heart health and acts to reduce the global burden of heart disease and stroke, which together claim 18.5 million lives every year. Our membership of more than 200 heart foundations, scientific societies and patient organizations in more than 100 countries is an active hub, promoting heart health and driving change at the local, regional and global level. As the principal representative body of the global cardiovascular community, WHF brings together a diverse network of multi-sectoral actors to share knowledge, guide policy, and provide people with the tools they need to live longer, healthier lives.
www.world-heart-federation.org
Media Relations contact:
Borjana Pervan, Borjana.pervan@worldheart.org
About Servier
Servier is a global pharmaceutical group governed by a Foundation. With a strong international presence in 150 countries and a total revenue of 4.7 billion euros in 2020, Servier employs 22,500 people worldwide. Servier is an independent group that invests over 20% of its brand-name revenue in Research and Development every year. To accelerate therapeutic innovation for the benefit of patients, the Group is committed to open and collaborative innovation with academic partners, pharmaceutical groups, and biotech companies. It also integrates the patient’s voice at the heart of its activities, from research to support beyond the pill.
A leader in cardiology, the ambition of the Servier Group is to become a recognized and innovative player in oncology. Its growth is based on a sustained commitment to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, oncology and immuno-inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases. To promote access to healthcare for all, the Servier Group also offers a range of quality generic drugs covering most pathologies. More information: www.servier.com
Media relations contacts:
Sonia Marques: presse@servier.com – Tel. +33 (0)1 55 72 40 21 / + 33 (0)7 84 28 76 13
Jean-Clément Vergeau: presse@servier.com – Tel. +33 (0)1 55 72 46 16 / +33 (0)6 79 56 75 96
About Global Heart Hub
The Global Heart Hub is an alliance of heart patient organizations, aiming to create a unified global voice for those living with, or affected by, heart disease. Our aim is to unite patient groups from every country in the world under the umbrella of the Global Heart Hub. Our combined mission is to raise awareness of heart disease and the challenges it presents in everyday life. The Global Heart Hub is a platform for heart patient organizations to share their views, learn from each other’s best practice, unite on common advocacy goals, and share resources. We aim to increase awareness and understanding of the many heart conditions that exist, improve patient outcomes, enhance quality of life, and optimize longevity and healthy aging. See www.globalhearthub.org for more information.
Media relations contact:
Edel Kenneally, edel@globalhearthub.org
[1] Khan MA et al. Cureus. 2020;12(7):e9349.
[2] Padala SK et al. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther.2017;22(6):499-510
[3] Jespersen L et al. Clin Res Cardiol. 2013;102(8): 571-581.
[4] Qintar M et al. Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes.2016;2(3):208-214.
[5] Alexander KP et al. Interact J Med Res. 2016;5(2): e12
[6] Marijon E et al. The Lancet. 2020;5(8).:E437-E443.
[7]Jespersen L et al. Clin Res Cardiol. 2013;102(8): 571-581.
[8] Padala SK et al. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther.2017;22(6):499-510.
[9] Ohman EM. N Engl J Med. 2016; 374(12):1167-1176.
