Heart failure, commonly called “pumapalyang puso”, affects thousands of Filipinos and approximately 64 million people worldwide, with half of patients dying within five years of diagnosis 1, 2, 3, 4. Patients with this condition experience physical and emotional symptoms. It limits their activities resulting to poor quality of life. Even when resting, some patients start experiencing shortness of breath and feeling gets heavier and heavier each day. Everyday activities are getting harder making them feel very vulnerable and hopeless. Many patients have shared that they feel as if they are merely waiting for death and feel guilty about placing a huge economic and emotional burden on their families.
The good news is that it can be treated and even prevented. To raise conversation and awareness, AstraZeneca Philippines hosted a panel of experts from the Philippines and around the world to discuss the latest developments on the said heart condition disease.
According to Professor David Sim, President of the Heart Failure Society in Singapore, 9 million people in Southeast Asia have heart failure with an overall 15% mortality rate 5,6. However, pharmacological options for this condition have increased over the last decade and guideline-directed pharmacotherapy cumulatively reduces mortality by 76%.
He highlighted “The approval of dapagliflozin for the treatment of HFrEF in Philippines is a major step forward in the battle against the disease burden of heart failure. Together with the current standard of care, dapagliflozin will contribute further to a lower mortality , less heart failure hospitalization and importantly a better quality of life for the patients suffering from heart failure”.
Professor Piotor Ponikowski of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology added that “heart failure is becoming a preventable and treatable disease, with medication that allows patients to live longer and live better outside of the hospital.”
These current developments in the treatment options bring hope to Filipinos diagnosed with this heart condition. With the approval of AstraZeneca’s Dapagliflozin as a treatment option for such, Filipinos can now avail of medication that can mitigate the disease.
In his presentation on Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse-outcomes in Heart Failure Trial (DAPAHF) Trial: A New Era in Heart Failure Management, Professor Piotr Ponikowski says “Dapagliflozin has the ability to reduce mortality, prevent hospital admission, improve clinical status, functional capacity, and quality of life.”
As such, to further work towards improved quality care in the Philippines, AstraZeneca also announced a partnership with the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) to elevate the standardized care and quality improvement efforts for heart failure to promote better awareness, management and options for patients.
Lotis Ramin, AstraZeneca Philippines Country President says, “During this COVID-19 pandemic, people with heart failure are among those at higher risk of complications. Proper disease management will help improve the condition and avoid hospitalization. With the approval of Dapagliflozin for use in adult patients suffering from heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, , we are proud to give hope to the numerous Filipinos affected by heart failure. Through our partnership with PHA, we aim for a comprehensive cardiovascular care program from prevention, timely diagnosis, and management of symptoms for heart failure to create a meaningful difference in the
lives of Filipinos.”
Do not delay. Get an early diagnosis and begin treatment. Start a conversation on heart failure with your doctor today.
