Rising Cardiovascular Disease Highlighted at ICCBS Workshop

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A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that in 2020 alone, Pakistan witnessed 240,720 deaths due to heart attacks (Myocardial Infarction), underscoring the critical need for enhanced cardiac care in the country. This alarming statistic was at the forefront of discussions during a one-day workshop on “Echocardiography” held at the Stem Cell Research Laboratory, Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi (UoK), on Saturday.

The workshop, aimed at building capacity and understanding of echocardiography—a vital ultrasound technique for examining heart functions—brought together clinicians, researchers, and technologists. The event was organized under the leadership of Prof Dr Farzana Shaheen, Director of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Karachi University.

In her opening remarks, Prof Farzana Shaheen highlighted the growing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Pakistan, echoing the global concern over the rise in heart-related illnesses. “An estimated 17.9 million people died of CVDs in 2019, representing 32 percent of all global deaths. Of these, 85 percent were due to heart attacks and strokes,” she said. Prof. Shaheen emphasized that the burden of cardiovascular disease is increasing steadily in Pakistan, making it crucial to enhance diagnostic and management techniques such as echocardiography.

The workshop featured prominent speakers including Dr Saleem Akhtar, Clinical Associate Professor and Consultant Pediatric Cardiologist at Aga Khan University (AKU), and Dr Asmat Salim, Professor at PCMD. Dr Saleem Akhtar elaborated on the significance of echocardiography in diagnosing and managing cardiovascular diseases, noting that the technique is instrumental for cardiologists in detecting a range of cardiac disorders.

Prof Asmat Salim, in her address, reinforced the importance of early detection of cardiovascular diseases, particularly heart attacks, which WHO reports as having the highest morbidity and mortality rates among cardiac conditions. “Echocardiography is vital to the assessment and management of cardiac diseases,” she said, adding that timely diagnosis through this method allows healthcare providers to initiate necessary interventions, including counseling and medication.

The workshop also benefited from the expertise of Dr Irfan Khan, Assistant Professor at AKU, Dr Rida-e-Maria Qazi, Postdoctoral Fellow at AKU, Ms Hina Ali, Laboratory Technologist Echocardiography at AKU, and Dr Nadia Naeem from Dow University of Health and Sciences, who served as resource persons for the event.

Prof Shaheen commended the efforts of Prof Asmat Salim and her team for organizing the workshop, which blended clinical and basic research perspectives, and thanked the students of the Stem Cell Laboratory for their contributions. She expressed optimism that the knowledge shared would enhance the participants’ ability to manage heart diseases more effectively, thereby contributing to better health outcomes in Pakistan.

The workshop concluded with a call for continued collaboration between clinicians and researchers to address the escalating challenge of cardiovascular diseases in the country.