October 18, 2011 — At more than 40 percent, the mortality rate due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in China is amongst the highest in the world. Its population faces a catalog of CVD risk factor statistics that expose high levels of obesity, diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure; the male population also displays a smoking habit that is proving difficult to address. To help reverse these trends, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) delivered an educational program at the 22nd Great Wall International Congress of Cardiology.
The ESC was invited for the second time by its affiliate, the Chinese Society of Cardiology (CSC), to co-host a special symposium during the congress, which ran Oct. 15-16 in Beijing.
International collaboration is a key objective of the ESC’s Global Scientific Activities (GSA) committee, which oversaw the ESC participation. A senior faculty from the society presented a series of practical case discussions jointly chaired with the CSC.
ESC’s educational program at the congress was a dedicated event providing an overview of its recent meetings and an insight into new and updated ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines. The program summarized the role of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors as the cornerstone of CVD management and considered treatment strategies for a range of conditions. These include atrial fibrillation, valvular heart disease, and non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction heart attack (STEMI).
The ESC was represented by its president, professor Michel Komajda, along with members of the ESC board, and a number of eminent cardiologists, including authors of its most recent Clinical Practice Guidelines.
“We are very proud to be part of this joint initiative that will further strengthen the links between China and the ESC,” says Komajda. “This will be our second visit to the Great Wall International Congress of Cardiology, and we hope that the interactive program we are delivering with our Chinese colleagues will lead to in-depth discussions around the important medical issues that we meet in daily practice.”
Relevant risk factor statistics of the adult population in China highlight the scale of the challenge:
- CVD mortality rates are more than double the typical European value
- Obesity levels have increased from 21 percent in 2002 to 36 percent in 2010
- More than 30 percent of the population have high blood pressure and cholesterol
- Around 50 percent of males are regular smokers
The Chinese Society of Cardiology enjoys excellent relations with the ESC. It hosted a joint scientific session at the 2011 ESC annual congress in Paris and also took a stand in the exhibition to promote its activities.
Hu Dayi, M.D., is a member of the organizing committee of the Great Wall International Congress of Cardiology, now the largest cardiology congress in the Asia Pacific region.
“This event has successfully united the various cardiology bodies in China,” he says. “These include the Chinese Society of Cardiology along with the Asia Pacific Heart Association (APHA), the Chinese College of Cardiovascular Physicians (CCCP), and the Chinese Heart Rhythm Society (CHRS). It is a platform for global collaboration, and we plan to extend our cooperation with the ESC in areas such as clinical research, guideline promotion, and training.”
The ESC’s GSA Committee was established to share ESC science and knowledge outside of Europe, build closer ties with international cardiology organizations and extend the ESC mission beyond its traditional borders.
For more information: www.escardio.org
November 12, 2025 
