Why I'm Wearing Red Today

Today, we celebrate Wear Red Day at Boston Scientific. Across the company, we are reflecting on the importance of heart health and celebrating the difference innovative technology makes to so many lives.

One of those lives is Cynthia, my executive assistant. Cynthia has tirelessly supported me since I took up my current role a year ago. Around the same time, Cynthia was diagnosed with a heart condition and treated with a Boston Scientific drug-eluting stent. The speed of Cynthia’s recovery means that very few of her colleagues know about her treatment. Having reached the one-year anniversary of her treatment, Cynthia is sharing her experience – a chance for us all to appreciate the incredible efforts of the healthcare professionals behind her treatment and recovery. With the role of heart health felt so deeply within our organization, we have much to celebrate today.

There is always more to be done in building knowledge around the importance of heart health and applying it strategically to improve patient outcomes. Medical devices change lives, but the education of patient populations on preventative cardiovascular care is just as important as the technology which steps in to lessen the burden of disease. The efforts of patient advocacy groups in raising awareness of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) via ‘wear red’ days are of utmost importance to the visibility of heart health.

The impact of cardiovascular disease on Asian populations

CVDs are the number one global cause of death, and in Asia Pacific (APAC), they’re on the rise. [1],[2] Of all CVD causes, ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the deadliest and a major contributor to mortality and morbidity. The ageing populations of APAC countries, coupled with lifestyle factors including high obesity and smoking rates, play a significant role in the 9 million IHD deaths annually in the region.[3] These are incredibly somber statistics, with huge room for improvement.

The economic burden of CVD is equally staggering; across eight countries in APAC, IHD and stroke are estimated to cost US $84.5 billion every year in direct and indirect costs.[4] Contributing to this sum are frequent hospital visits, long-term disease management and recurring incidences of heart attacks and stroke, as more people are surviving these incidents than ever before and are living with a higher risk of complications. Particularly for CVD patients living outside of major cities, cost of treatments and hospital visits can be financially catastrophic.[5]

Every aspect of a patient’s life is impeded by a CVD diagnosis, wreaking havoc on working hours, life savings and family dynamics. For millions of families across the region, to continue on this trajectory is completely unsustainable.

The vital role of medical devices in protecting heart health

?There are real opportunities for devices to make a measurable difference to heart health, both by contributing to life-saving procedures and advancing technology.[6]

During percutaneous coronary intervention – a surgical procedure which treats the narrowing of the coronary arteries – the use of catheters with state-of-the-art high definition imaging technology can enable physicians to study abnormalities with incredible accuracy and improve intervention efficacy.

New advancements in electro-anatomical mapping technology have also enabled electrophysiologists to see rhythm abnormalities like never before. This allows diagnoses to be made more efficiently and for targeted therapies to be delivered faster, helping to lower the risk of CVD progression.   

By combining creativity and cutting-edge science, these devices can help make a transformative difference to patients with CVDs. At Boston Scientific, we are proud to be at the forefront of medical solutions which have the potential to reshape the CVD statistics across APAC. Having seen the painstaking research and dedication that goes into the development of these technologies, I still find it incredible that we are able to support healthcare professionals as they predict CVD complications before they happen. This enables swift, decisive action that can help to reduce costs, improve outcomes and, most importantly, enhance patients' lives.

With education, innovation and an unwavering industry-wide commitment to driving down CVD numbers, it is possible to make a positive difference to the lives of millions of patients and caregivers.

References

1 WHO: Cardiovascular diseases

2 Cardiovascular disease epidemiology in Asia

3 WHO: Health at a glance, Asia Pacific 2018

4 Economist Intelligence Unit: The cost of inaction (2020)

5 The quality of cardiovascular disease prevention in rural areas, The Australian Journal of Rural health

6 Drugs, Devices and the FDA, Science Direct