Population-level strategies, primary care strengthening and tertiary care reforms may be urgently needed in China to address the ongoing battle against cardiovascular disease, according to a review paper published June 17 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Xin Du, MD, PhD, et al., highlight serious gaps in the management of coronary heart disease, heart failure and atrial fibrillation in China, as well as deficiencies in the Chinese health care system. They explain that the burden of cardiovascular disease is high in China due to highly prevalent and poorly controlled risk factors resulting from changing sociodemographic structure and lifestyles in its large population.

They note that while rapid economic development and urbanization have been accompanied by changing patterns, expression and management of cardiovascular disease, China's health care system lacks a hierarchical structure. It focuses on treating acute diseases in hospitals while ignoring long-term management, and primary health care is too weak to effectively control cardiovascular risk factors.

To address some of these challenges, the authors explain that the Chinese central government has ensured health is a national priority. In addition, it has introduced reforms that include implementing policies for a healthy environment, strengthening primary care, and improving affordability and accessibility within the health system.

"The tremendous economic development in China is imposing many new challenges to the health and well-being of the population," the authors conclude. "Given its vast size and the geographically and culturally diverse population of China, there is still a long journey ahead toward adopting the learnings and insights from within and outside to conquer cardiovascular disease."

Clinical Topics: Arrhythmias and Clinical EP, Cardiovascular Care Team, Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathies, Atrial Fibrillation/Supraventricular Arrhythmias, Acute Heart Failure

Keywords: Risk Factors, Atrial Fibrillation, Tertiary Healthcare, Cardiovascular Diseases, Economic Development, Urbanization, Acute Disease, Delivery of Health Care, Life Style, Coronary Disease, Primary Health Care, Heart Failure, Government, China

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