Rolf Zettl

"Cardiovascular diseases are widespread diseases with many faces and were the most common cause of death in Germany in 2021. According to a survey by the Federal Statistical Office, one third of all deaths in Germany can be attributed to cardiovascular events. This means that cardiovascular diseases have a direct impact on average life expectancy in Germany. This makes it important to firmly establish the importance of prevention and early detection of cardiovascular diseases in the awareness of the general public and to highlight opportunities for improving medical care through the use of new and innovative strategies and procedures. 

The Deutsche Herzzentrum der Charité used World Heart Day 2023 to bring together the various stakeholders in the healthcare system and political decision-makers. The event, which was organized with financial support from Stiftung Charité and in cooperation with the Friede Springer - Cardiovascular Prevention Center@Charité, served to network medical researchers, clinicians and outpatient physicians, representatives of health insurance companies, professional associations, specialist societies and patient organizations as well as political decision-makers from the Deutscher Bundestag.

As a part of the scientific networking symposium Prevention and early detection of cardiovascular diseases on 28.09.2023, current, innovative methods and procedures of high-performance medicine were presented in 8 lectures and 2 panel discussions and showed what contribution they can make to patient-centered, resource-saving, crosssector and comprehensive medical care in the field of cardiovascular diseases. Prof. Dr. Landmesser, Prof. Dr. Hindricks, Prof. Dr. Kelle and Prof. Dr. Schönrath from the German Heart Center at Charité and Prof. Dr. Steinhagen-Thiessen from the Friede Springer - Cardivascular Prevention Center@Charité showed how the latest research findings can help to identify risks at an early stage and respond to them preventively. Prof. Dr. Voigtländer, President of the German Heart Foundation, Ms. Teichert, Chairwoman of the Board of AOK Nordost and Dr. Kröttinger, Deputy Chairwoman of the German Foundation for the Chronically Ill, demonstrated in their contributions the importance of the transfer to practice for the early, outpatient care of patients. How comprehensive, cross-sectoral medical care for patients in structurally weak regions can be implemented and what contribution digitalization can make to this was explained in practical terms using the example of the G-BA project ‘HerzCheck’. In the mobile MRI diagnostic unit of the ‘Herzcheck’ project, the 65 participants of the event and interested passers-by were able to learn about the possibilities of early detection of asymptomatic heart failure through a practical demonstration. The event was also accompanied by information stands from the German Heart Foundation and the Friede Springer - Cardiovascular Prevention Center@Charité."