Heart failure is considered one of the greatest challenges in modern medicine. Estimates show that the number of patients worldwide, as well as in Serbia, is constantly increasing. Data indicate that in our country more than 120,000 people suffer from this condition, and the figure continues to grow every year.
What particularly worries experts is the fact that patients often fail to recognise the early symptoms, which usually appear only when the disease has already progressed. This is why they stress that raising awareness and early detection are crucial for reducing mortality and improving the quality of life of patients. These were precisely the topics addressed at the conference "Heart Failure - The Silent Threat of the Modern Age," which gathered leading cardiologists, various other healthcare professionals, and the pharmaceutical sector with the aim of highlighting the importance of timely diagnosis, available therapies, and better patient care in Serbia.
Health is a matter for the whole society
Participants and guests were welcomed in the opening session by Irena Petrović, Director of the WMG Foundation, while the conference itself was formally opened by Professor Zlatibor Lončar, MD, Minister of Health of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and His Excellency Edward Ferguson, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Serbia and Montenegro.
In her introductory address, Irena Petrović, Director of the WMG Foundation, reminded participants that health is not an issue for doctors alone, but one that must concern society as a whole.
"It was precisely for this reason that almost two years ago we launched the project Prevention as a Guarantee, under which today’s conference has also been organised. It is a platform that enables us to work together on raising awareness, highlighting the importance of preventive healthcare, and improving public health. On this occasion, I wish to thank AstraZeneca and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia, who recognised the importance of this initiative and have supported us from the very beginning.
The theme of today’s conference - Heart Failure – The Silent Threat of the Modern Age - is of exceptional importance. This is a subject that deserves far greater attention, which is why we have gathered eminent experts today to discuss the importance of education, prevention, and the application of modern therapeutic options. I believe we are in for an engaging discussion and that this conference will contribute not only to raising awareness of the importance of prevention but also to improving existing practices," added Irena Petrović, Director of the WMG Foundation.
Professor Zlatibor Lončar, MD, Minister of Health of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, underlined in his speech the importance of dialogue as the foundation for achieving results: "Today we have here the Ambassador of the United Kingdom, representatives of the academy, university professors, which shows that dialogue is functioning and that it will bring results."
"In recent years, significant progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure - in the development of medicines, mechanical support, as well as heart transplantation, which have greatly extended and improved patients’ lives. With the introduction of modern biomarkers for the diagnosis of heart failure, as well as advanced imaging methods across the territory of the Republic of Serbia, diagnostics have been significantly enhanced," he added, concluding that all plans, programmes, and continuous activities of the Ministry of Health are directed towards citizens, because they are the priority.
The Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Serbia and Montenegro, His Excellency Edward Ferguson, once again emphasised that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, that they carry the worst prognosis, and that they should receive much greater attention in the media.
"I would like to congratulate Serbia and the cardiology community on hosting the European Congress on Heart Failure in Belgrade in May this year. It was an important recognition of your work and a clear signal that you are valued members of the international cardiology community, standing shoulder to shoulder with colleagues from the United Kingdom, Europe and across the world," he said.
Education and Raising Awareness
The first panel discussion, titled "When the Heart Calls for Help - How to Recognise Heart Failure," highlighted the importance of early detection of the disease, particularly within primary healthcare.
The panels were moderated by Jelena S. Spasić, journalist at Kurir, who has been following healthcare topics for years. Responding to Jelena’s questions, Professor Nebojša Tasić, MD, explained that heart failure does not develop suddenly, but is the result of decades-long factors: "What the state has done over the past nine months, at the initiative of Minister Lončar, was to launch educational programmes for healthy citizens - we visited more than 45 municipalities and held educational forums where we spoke with the younger population. The aim is to educate the public and conduct check-ups. Europe is doing something similar, but they launched their project after us."
Professor Petar Otašević, MD, stated that patients with heart failure do not seek medical help by chance, but because of poor tolerance to physical effort: "The message is that as soon as you feel symptoms, you should see your general practitioner, and then your cardiologist. There is a mistaken belief that when you are young you cannot become ill - it is important to go for a check-up as early as possible."
Professor Petar M. Seferović, MD, revealed that the cultural approach of our people is very important and that the key is for panels to focus on prevention and taking responsibility for one’s own health.
Participants Professor Petar M. Seferović, MD, Professor Nebojša Tasić, MD, and Professor Petar Otašević, MD, agreed that reasonable caution is desirable - with regular medical check-ups and the early recognition of heart failure by doctors, along with consistent use of modern therapies, prognosis, control and quality of life are favourable in such cases. Meanwhile, it is the responsibility of the state to follow global trends and introduce modern therapies funded by the National Health Insurance Fund.
Great possibilities exist if the patient arrives on time
The second panel focused on the system of patient support - from the moment of diagnosis, through the availability of modern therapies, to long-term healthcare. Prof. Dr Marija Zdravković stressed that above all, it is most important to talk to and listen to the patient when they come to the clinic: "When there is shortness of breath, swelling of the legs, and fatigue, that is an immediate alarm for doctors. We then have our protocol - today, we have the possibility of establishing a diagnosis from just one drop of blood, as we say, and then sending the patient for an echocardiogram."
"You have to start everything on time, with diagnosis and therapy, so as not to reach the stage where no medical procedure can help. When the function of the heart has to be taken over by mechanical support and the patient waits for a transplant - if they live that long," explained Professor Svetozar Putnik, MD.
Professor Svetlana Apostolović, MD, pointed out that regardless of the diagnostic procedure, doctors must know the cause and how far the disease has progressed: “We divide therapy into symptomatic treatment, to help patients with their symptoms, and in addition we have four pillars of therapy which should be introduced immediately at the maximum tolerated dose, with a follow-up after one month. Today there are medicines that can prevent heart failure from leading to progressive renal failure, such as SGLT2 inhibitors, which are also used in patients with diabetes or hypertension to prevent cardiovascular diseases. That is why it is important for them to be available to all citizens of Serbia, regardless of financial status."
The participants agreed that education is crucial, as well as calls for a smoking ban, which has shown enormous results abroad, and the introduction of new measures such as lipid profile testing from an earlier age. What we can do for ourselves is to preserve our heart through a healthy lifestyle.