This Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Clinic Aims To Better Treat M'sians With Heart Problems
Located in IJN, the clinic is led by a trained team of clinicians, nurses, dieticians, physiotherapists, and pharmacists.
By Gowri Chitra — 02 Aug 2022, 03:36 PM
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019, non-communicable diseases (NCD) accounted for 71% of premature deaths in Malaysia
Of key concern within NCDs is Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD), which contributes to 54% of these NCD deaths*.
On a global scale, the World Health Organization (WHO) also estimates that over 15 million people die from ASCVD every year, accounting for 85% of all cardiovascular-related deaths.
ASCVD diseases such as coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD), are caused by the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to a buildup of cholesterol.
Blockage to these arteries will cause a dangerous decrease of blood flow to primary organs in the body such as the heart, the brain, and the peripheries such as the arms and legs.
*Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Global Burden of Disease 2019
As ASCVD diseases are largely preventable and have many lifestyle and behavioural risk factors, Novartis Malaysia has partnered with Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) to help patients improve disease management through better care and transformative therapies
From left to right: Dr. Mayuresh Fegade, Chief Scientific Officer of Novartis Malaysia; Mr. Elwakil Mohamed, Country President of Novartis Malaysia; Datuk Dr. Aizai Azan, Chief Executive Officer of Institut Jantung Negara; and Dr. Hasri Samion, Chief Clinical Officer of IJN formalising the scientific research partnership between IJN and Novartis Malaysia.
Image via Novartis Malaysia (Provided to SAYS)This first-ever scientific partnership features three key areas of focus:
- Collaborate research to generate data on ASCVD in Malaysia and measure outcomes of ASCVD patients
- Establish a state-of-the-art multi-disciplinary Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Clinic (CRRC) to optimise ASCVD care
- Establish IJN as an internationally-recognised training centre of excellence in ASCVD care
The partnership is not the first between Novartis Malaysia and IJN, who have also collaborated to bring about the IJN-Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF) Registry, which was published internationally, and IJN's Heart Failure Clinic.
To date, the partnership has already achieved one of its goals, which is setting up a Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Clinic (CRRC)
From left to right: Dato' Sri Dr. Azhari Rosman; Nurse Choong Shiau Yin, Diabetes Educator of IJN; Dr. Thum Chan Ho, Clinical Fellow, Department of Cardiology of IJN; Mr. Elwakil Mohamed, Country President of Novartis Malaysia; and Dr. Mayuresh Fegade, Chief Scientific Officer of Novartis Malaysia, at the CRRC.
Image via Novartis Malaysia (Provided to SAYS)Hosted every Monday at IJN, the CRRC will optimise ASCVD care by providing patients with primary lipid disorders and other cardiovascular disease risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus with effective and aggressive treatment strategies.
It is driven by a systematic management protocol, and is led by a trained multi-disciplinary team of clinicians, nurses, dieticians, physiotherapists, and pharmacists.
Country President of Novartis Malaysia Mohamed El-Wakil said, "Novartis recognises that ASCVD is an undeniable global public health issue and the world's number one killer"
He shared, "Staying true to our purpose of reimagining medicines to improve and extend people's lives, we learn about our patients' journey and develop solutions to meet those gaps and needs in cardiovascular care.
"This pioneering collaboration between Novartis Malaysia and IJN is crucial as it can be a potential game-changer within the ASCVD treatment paradigm. It brings together the expertise and impeccable standards of care by the nation's premier cardiovascular specialist institution, IJN, with the comprehensive experience of Novartis in the area of cardiovascular health."
Meanwhile, IJN chief executive officer Datuk Dr. Aizai Azan Abdul Rahim added, "This collaboration is indeed timely as the prevalence of ASCVD is increasing.
"In addition, the Ministry of Health has just revealed the National Strategic Plan for Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) 2016-2025, aiming to reduce NCD deaths from 20% to 15% by 2025. We are looking forward to our collaboration with Novartis Malaysia to achieve our goal 'What Good Looks Like' in ASCVD care."
IJN is reckoned to be among the best medical centres for cardiovascular and thoracic care in Malaysia and the region
Since its inception in 1992, it has kept abreast with the latest medical advances, from handling a simple hole in the heart surgery to heart and lung transplantations.
With a strong commitment to be a global heart care centre of excellence, IJN is dedicated to the management and treatment of heart diseases by providing cardiology, paediatric cardiology, and cardiothoracic surgery services for adults and children.
At the same time, Novartis Malaysia is no less impressive, having been present in Malaysia since 1971.
In 2021, Clinical Research Malaysia ranked Novartis Malaysia as the top contributor in sponsored research. With 16 research projects, they lead the market of other healthcare players in this sponsored research space.
Together, their collaboration is sure to go a long way in helping to combat and improve the ASCVD situation in Malaysia
Group photo of the team that realised the scientific partnership. From left to right: Dr. Mayuresh Fegade, Chief Scientific Officer of Novartis Malaysia; Dato' Dr. Suhaini Kadiman, Director of Clinical Research of IJN; Mr. Elwakil Mohamed, Country President of Novartis Malaysia; Datuk Dr. Aizai Azan, Chief Executive Officer of IJN; Dr. Hasri Samion, Chief Clinical Officer of IJN; and Dato’ Sri' Dr. Azhari Rosman, Sr. Consultant Cardiologist of IJN.
Image via Novartis Malaysia (Provided to SAYS)The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader's own medical care.
The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019 also found that half of the Malaysian population is concerningly overweight:
