International Press Dialogue 2013

"Can Society Afford Not to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease?"

Date:

7 May 2013; 11:00am to 1:00pm, followed by lunch

Location:

Renaissance Brussels Hotel
Rue du Parnasse 19
1050 Brussels
Belgium

Schedule:

• Event language: English
• Welcome and introductions: Jon Barrick, Stroke Alliance for Europe and CEO Stroke Association
• Address by patient organisation representative: Kjetil Gaarder, Norwegian Association for Stroke Survivors
• Address by medical community representative: Dr Ernst R. Rietzschel, cardiologist and assistant professor, Ghent University, Belgium
• Address by medical community representative: Dr Joachim Heisters, cardiologist, Germany
• Address by scientific community representative: Professor Lieven Annemans, Ghent University, Belgium
• Address by industry representative: Dr Frank Misselwitz, Bayer HealthCare, Germany
• Moderated discussion (Jon Barrick)
• Lunch and learning and networking session

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are responsible for one-third of all deaths worldwide. At least 20 million people survive heart attacks and strokes every year, many of whom will require continuous and costly long-term clinical care, including rehabilitation, residential care and drug therapy. The risk of CVD increases with age; therefore, as our population ages, the number of families devastated by CVD will only escalate. This prompts the question whether medical research should set a stronger focus on prevention of CVD.