How we can help improve care for cardiovascular patients: from the ESC 2017 and beyond

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to head to Barcelona for the annual European Society of Cardiology Congress 2017. As the world’s largest cardiovascular congress, the event attracts the leading minds in cardiovascular care from around the globe to engage in thought-provoking discussions on new developments and to share the latest research in cardiovascular disease (CVD). For me, this event offers a valuable opportunity to connect with customers, colleagues and friends, both old and new, and to highlight what we at Philips are doing to make life better for patients with CVDs.

There’s little doubt of the increased interest in more effective and efficient ways to treat CVDs, the number one cause of death worldwide.[1] With growing numbers of patients surviving for longer, needing complex and sometimes repetitive treatment, and suffering from more comorbidities, there’s more pressure than ever on hospitals to provide optimal patient care. That’s before accounting for the cost associated with the care of CVDs, which is estimated to be a staggering €210 billion each year in the EU alone.[2]

In many cases, CVDs can be prevented. We can improve countless lives by raising awareness of the risk factors that can lead to CVD, such as smoking, an unhealthy diet, obesity, and lack of physical activity. Increased education combined with new technologies and tools that enable earlier diagnosis and treatment is an effective approach to preventing and better treating CVD. At Philips, we are committed to helping cardiovascular patients live better lives by enabling healthcare solutions to connect people, data and technology across the entire health continuum to manage health, not just illness. This year at the Congress of the European Society of Cardiology in Barcelona, we had the opportunity to showcase our latest technologies that do exactly that—transform cardiovascular care.

We’ve made tremendous strides in increasing our cardiology care capabilities. Just this year, we’ve announced two game-changing acquisitions. Spectranetics, a fitting addition to our Image Guided Therapy business group, and TOMTEC, a leading provider of intelligent image analysis software in cardiac ultrasound. These acquisitions, in combination with our recently announced global collaboration with HeartFlow, truly showcase our commitment to expanding our range of therapeutic offerings, helping to determine the extent of coronary artery disease, and again, ultimately improving patient care. 

Another example is our recently launched next generation image guided therapy platform, Azurion, which has already been installed at many cardiac centers. With CVDs being a primary cause of death in the world, innovations like Azurion, which help cardiologists to provide superior care and reduce preparation and procedure time, can lead to advancements that may help more patients to be diagnosed and treated faster and more efficiently. Personally, I found it hugely inspiring to hear first-hand the excitement of clinicians on the value this platform is providing not only in their hospitals, but for their patients once they return home. I very much look forward to hearing similar success stories, as Azurion continues to be installed in hospitals around the globe.

It is also very encouraging to see new data from the independent SYNTAX II trial presented at ESC Congress 2017 by Dr. Javier Escaned from Madrid. The late-breaking trial data is providing clinical evidence of a state-of-the-art PCI technique, combining physiology and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging, synergy drug-alluding stents and contemporary optimal medical therapy, to help simplify procedures and contribute to improved patient outcomes. We’re excited to continue supporting the advancement of new approaches to complex cardiovascular diseases, beyond what is currently being used as the gold standard.

Overall, it was clear that one of the most valuable takeaways from ESC Congress 2017 was the trend toward care that is patient-centric and fuelled by intelligent, data-driven technology. There was a palpable sense of excitement and optimism in the air and a sense that the future of cardiac care has never looked brighter. At Philips, we share that positivity and are proudly committed to making life better for patients with CVDs.

What excites you about the future of heart health?

References:

1. World Health Organization. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs). Media Centre: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs317/en/.

2. European Heart Network. European Cardiovascular Disease Statistics 2017. http://www.ehnheart.org/cvd-statistics.html.