Risk increases, disease becomes younger
Speaking at the International Scientific Conference of the Heart Institute, Bach Mai Hospital 2025 held on December 6, Dr. Vu Manh Ha, Permanent Deputy Minister of Health warned: Cardiovascular disease is currently the leading cause of death among non-communicable diseases in Vietnam, with about 200,000 deaths each year.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2021, there were about 20.5 million deaths from cardiovascular disease worldwide, of which 80% occurred in low- and middle-income countries. Vietnam is also facing an increasing burden of cardiovascular disease, both in terms of cases, deaths and especially the trend of rejuvenation.
Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha said that cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, smoking, and sedentary lifestyles are increasing rapidly. The age of disease is getting younger, causing great pressure on the health system and directly affecting human resources and socio-economic development.
According to the leader of the Ministry of Health, the current challenge is not only treatment but disease prevention, early detection, risk management and chronic diseases right in the community, requiring coordination between the upper level, grassroots health care, experts and people.
In addition, the Vietnamese cardiovascular sector has achieved many important achievements, mastering specialized techniques such as complex coronary intervention, minimally invasive heart surgery, and congenital heart intervention. In particular, fetal heart intervention - an advanced technique only available in a few countries - has affirmed Vietnam's medical level as approaching the region and international.
Digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are being increasingly widely applied in diagnosis and treatment, helping to improve clinical efficiency. The network of local cardiovascular centers is constantly expanding, creating conditions for people to access quality services right from the grassroots level, reducing the burden on the central level...
Three pillars of cardiovascular development in Vietnam
The Ministry of Health identifies "scientific research - innovation - international cooperation" as the 3 pillars of development of the health sector in general and the cardiovascular sector in particular in the coming time. Accordingly, the cardiovascular industry will focus on developing the national cardiovascular network; promoting prevention and early screening; enhancing specialized training; promoting research, application of high technology and perfecting the legal corridor.
Associate Professor, Dr. Dao Xuan Co - Director of Bach Mai Hospital - said that world cardiology is changing strongly with AI, big data and accurate medicine. Many countries have applied technology to early forecast risks, reduce hospitalizations and build national cardiovascular data.
Bach Mai Hospital aims to make the Vietnam Cardiovascular Institute a leading center in Southeast Asia, focusing on AI prevention, intensive intervention, pediatric cardiology, international cooperation, while promoting training, research and building cardiovascular data.
