Our podcast series unravel big and small ideas, developments, and breakthroughs in cardiology. From vital issues such as how to prevent cardiovascular disease, to the latest in treatment and care for the millions of people affected by it, we take our listeners on an exploratory journey. A journey towards stronger health systems and healthier hearts. The podcasts feature conversations with practitioners and authors of key publications and discoveries. From our heart to yours, thank you for letting us in.
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Global Heart Podcast, host Pablo Perel speaks with Prof. Alta Schutte and Prof. Dorairaj Prabhakaran about one of the world’s biggest cardiovascular challenges: hypertension control. From accurate blood pressure measurement to delivering effective treatment at scale, they explore what it will take to improve hypertension care globally.Prof. Schutte explains why measuring blood pressure correctly remains a major global health issue, highlighting the importance of validated devices, proper training, home monitoring, and the growing, but still evolving, role of wearables and digital technologies in hypertension detection and management.Prof. Dorairaj discusses practical strategies for hypertension treatment, including combination drug therapy, task-sharing with non-physician healthcare providers, digital health tools, and scalable delivery models for low-resource settings. The conversation also explores barriers to implementation, public health approaches, and how policy, health systems, and innovation can work together to improve blood pressure control worldwide.Together, they reflect on key research priorities, the future of hypertension care, and why tackling high blood pressure requires both strong clinical practice and bold population-level action.Tune in to learn how better measurement, smarter treatment, and public health innovation could transform hypertension control across the globe.Further reading and resources:World Heart Federation – Hypertension Resources:https://world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/hypertension/WHO guidance on the ethics of health research priority setting:https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240110953Comparison of dual therapies for hypertension treatment in India: a randomized clinical trial (Nature Medicine):https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03854-wWearables and Cuffless Blood Pressure Measurement – Evidence, Challenges, and Clinical Perspectives:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41371-024-00932-3Research Priorities for Hypertension Control and Blood Pressure Measurement:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12826266/
5/27/26 • 40:32
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Global Heart Podcast, host Pablo Perel speaks with Prof. Bruce Neal about excess salt consumption, hypertension, and the growing evidence behind potassium-enriched salt substitutes as a practical strategy to reduce cardiovascular disease globally.Prof. Neal explains why traditional salt reduction efforts have struggled, how potassium-enriched salt works, and what major studies — including the landmark Salt Substitute and Stroke Study (SSaSS) — reveal about its impact on blood pressure, stroke, cardiovascular events, and premature death.Together, they discuss safety considerations, implementation challenges, affordability, global guideline recommendations, and why this approach may have particular potential in low- and middle-income countries.Tune in to learn how rethinking salt could help transform hypertension prevention worldwide.WHO Guideline on Lower-Sodium Salt Substitutes:https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240105591Read more about the Salt Substitute and Stroke Study (SSaSS):https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/clinical-trials/2021/08/26/01/19/ssassFurther reading:World Heart Federation – Hypertension Resourceshttps://world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/hypertension/European Hypertension Guidelineshttps://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/45/38/3912/7741010
5/11/26 • 34:34
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, host Pablo Perel and co-host Raul Santos are joined by Prof. Karen Sliwa and Prof. Amitava Banerjee to explore the ongoing impact of long COVID and its relationship with cardiovascular disease. Drawing on recent global research, the discussion highlights why long COVID remains a significant public health issue, particularly for people with cardiovascular risk factors, and examines its long-term effects on symptoms, quality of life, and health systems .The conversation covers findings from the WHF Global COVID-19 Long-Term Follow-up Study, as well as new evidence on the role of vaccination in reducing long COVID risk and insights from specialist post-COVID care services. Together, the speakers discuss prevention, integrated care, and key lessons for future pandemic preparedness.Tune in to understand how long COVID continues to shape cardiovascular health—and what can be done to improve outcomes.Read the featured papers:WHF Global COVID-19 Long-Term Follow-up Study (Global Heart)https://globalheartjournal.com/articles/10.5334/gh.1452Vaccination and prevention of Long COVID (Nature Communications)https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-65302-0Long-term follow-up in a specialist post-COVID service in the UK (BMJ Open)https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/16/1/e103884.long
3/31/26 • 38:40
Send us Fan MailThis episode is hosted by Pablo Perel, Senior Science Advisor at the World Heart Federation. He is joined by Dr. Jilliane Code, researcher, educator and heart transplant recipient, and Dr. Vagner Madrini Junior, cardiologist and Deputy Editor of Global Heart Journal.Together, they explore heart failure from both the lived experience and clinical perspective. Dr. Code shares her powerful journey—from initial misdiagnosis in her twenties to advanced heart failure, transplantation, and long-term recovery—highlighting the emotional impact of hearing the words “heart failure,” the challenges of navigating complex treatment pathways, and the importance of patient empowerment.Dr. Madrini Junior explains in accessible terms what heart failure is, its most common causes and symptoms, why diagnosis can be challenging, and how medication adherence and clear communication between healthcare professionals and patients are essential to improving outcomes.Their conversation underscores the importance of listening to patients, addressing communication barriers, and fostering a multidisciplinary approach to care. Above all, it offers reassurance that with education, support, and partnership, people living with heart failure can lead meaningful and fulfilling lives.Resources mentioned in this episode:Scientific publication (PubMed):https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41032214/Blog – Heart Failure to Harvard:https://heartfailuretoharvard.comDocumentary – My Broken Heart:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF7Pv7EZ308&t=308sHeartLife Academy:https://heartlife.academyHeartLife:https://heartlife.com
2/27/26 • 42:30
Send us Fan MailWorld Heart Federation host Shreya Shrikhande speaks with Mike Lane from the Amyloidosis Army and David Gregory from the Amyloidosis Alliance on their powerful journeys with ATTR-CM. They share the challenges of misdiagnosis, treatment access, community support, and the urgent need for awareness and early detection of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy.Find out more about Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy ATTR-CM on World Heart Federation website.
10/26/25 • 64:06
Send us Fan MailHost Pablo Perel and co-host Prof. Raul Santos talk with Dr Jiao Luo about Mendelian randomisation (MR) in cardiovascular research, what it is, core assumptions (relevance, independence, no horizontal pleiotropy), common pitfalls (weak instruments, population mismatch, non-linearity), and how to read MR papers. The episode references:Unraveling the Causal Links Between Immune Cells, Lipids, and Cardiovascular Diseases: Insights from Mendelian Randomization and Mendelian Randomisation: Concepts, Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Directions.
9/26/25 • 28:22
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, host Pablo Perel speaks with Mr. Girma Dessie and Dr. Andrew Moran about a powerful example of real-world cardiovascular implementation research from Ethiopia.Mr. Dessie presents a recent study investigating why patients enrolled in a hypertension program were missing follow-up visits, despite strong program support and a standardized care model. The discussion covers the challenges of conducting field research in low-resource settings, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest—and how their findings directly informed national health policy changes in Ethiopia.Dr. Moran, co-author of the study and deputy editor of Global Heart, introduces the journal’s new section “Lessons from the Field,” aimed at amplifying implementation and operational research from low- and middle-income countries. He explains how this new platform will support practitioners and policymakers by bringing visibility to local innovations that improve cardiovascular care.Tune in to learn how frontline research can drive evidence-based policy, improve retention in care, and shape global cardiovascular health strategies.Read the featured paper in Global Heart:Factors Associated with Hypertension Care Follow-Up in the Ethiopia HEARTS Program
7/28/25 • 33:50
Send us Fan MailThis episode is hosted by Sean Taylor, Director of Science and Public Health at the World Heart Federation, and Shreya Shrikhande, Science and Public Health Officer in the same team. They speak with two patients, Maria and Chandrima, who share their personal journeys with angina.Although their experiences are different—one facing years of uncertainty, the other enduring rapid, severe symptoms—both describe the struggle to receive a diagnosis and to have their symptoms taken seriously. They discuss the ongoing impact of angina on their daily lives, including physical, emotional, and social challenges.Their stories highlight the importance of recognising non-typical presentations, listening to patients, and ensuring better awareness and support for those living with angina.
6/27/25 • 31:36
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we explore the key findings of the World Heart Report 2025, which focuses on obesity and cardiovascular disease. The report’s lead authors, Professor Mariachiara Di Cesare from the University of Essex and Professor Francisco Lopez-Jimenez from the Mayo Clinic, delve into why obesity remains one of the most neglected cardiovascular risk factors, how it directly contributes to heart disease, and what makes this report distinct from previous editions.The conversation also highlights the biological and societal drivers of obesity, the need for stronger clinical and public health responses, and what current trends mean for global health systems.Tune in to hear about the latest evidence, clinical recommendations, and public health insights shaping the global response to obesity and cardiovascular disease.
6/4/25 • 31:03
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we explore the 2025 WHO guidelines on the use of low-sodium salt substitutes. Prof. Mary L’Abbé, a member of the WHO guideline development group, explains the evidence, recommendations, and key considerations behind this important new guideline. Later, Prof. Jaime Miranda reflects on the global public health implications, implementation challenges, and how salt substitution could be a game changer for reducing population-level cardiovascular risk. Tune in to learn about the science, the controversies, and the potential for real-world impact. And you can have access to the full WHO report here:https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240105591 Read the Editorial on Global Heart Journalhttps://globalheartjournal.com/articles/10.5334/gh.1419 Further reading: - Salt study in Peru: Effect of salt substitution on community-wide blood pressure and hypertension incidence - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0754-2- UN GSDR 2023 report: Global Sustainable Development Report 2023: Times of Crisis, Times of Change - Science for Accelerating Transformations to Sustainable Development - https://sdgs.un.org/gsdr/gsdr2023- Season with Sense - a public health campaign with the aim of driving down consumer sodium intake - https://www.seasonwithsense.com
3/31/25 • 48:10
Send us Fan MailWrap up February with the latest episode of the World Heart Podcast! This time, hosts Lisa Hadeed and Shreya Shrikhande, PhD welcome Prof. Laurence (Larry) Sperling, a leading expert in preventive cardiology, to discuss the critical connection between influenza and heart health.Prof. Sperling shares key insights on how the flu can increase cardiovascular risks, why the annual flu shot is a powerful heart disease prevention strategy, and what steps we can take to protect ourselves and our communities. Tune in for an engaging conversation on the importance of vaccination, the science behind flu-related heart risks, and the role of healthcare professionals in building vaccine trust.Listen now on all major podcast platforms!
2/28/25 • 28:34
Send us Fan MailKick off 2025 with the Global Heart Podcast! Our January episode features Dr. Raul Santos, Global Heart's new Editor-in-Chief, and Dr. Jagat Narula, WHF President, sharing their inspiring visions for advancing global cardiovascular research through Global Heart and the World Heart Federation to improve heart health worldwide.
1/28/25 • 34:20
Send us Fan MailJoin us for the latest episode of the World Heart Federation Podcast, hosted by WHF Senior Science Advisor, Pablo Perel. This time, we welcome Professor David Wood, a global leader in cardiovascular prevention, to discuss the groundbreaking and recently published INTERASPIRE study. Discover its key findings related to the critical gaps in achieving care standards for cardiovascular secondary prevention.Link to the paper: https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/45/39/4184/7742405Details on the INTERASPIRE study on World Heart Observatory website:https://world-heart-federation.org/world-heart-observatory/multi-national-studies/
12/17/24 • 22:27
Send us Fan MailIn this third episode of our podcast series ‘Global Heart Podcast', World Heart Federation Science Advisor Pablo Perel discusses recent global cardiovascular research on air pollution and explains findings and implications with lead authors of the papers.Mark Miller (Reader, Centre for Cardiovascular Science at the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.): World Heart Report 2024 | World Heart FederationDorairaj Prabhakaran (Executive Director, Centre for Chronic Disease Control, New Delhi, India): Longitudinal associations between ambient PM2.5 exposure and lipid levels in two Indian cities | PubMedThis episode was recorded at the World Heart Summit 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland.
6/5/24 • 28:02
Send us Fan MailIn this second episode of our podcast series ‘Global Heart Podcast', World Heart Federation Science Advisor Pablo Perel and Global Heart Journal Editor-in-chief Rick Grobbee discuss recent global cardiovascular research on secondary prevention and explain findings and implications with lead authors of the papers.Clara Chow (Professor of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Australia): World Heart Federation Roadmap for Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: 2023 Update - Global Heart (globalheartjournal.com) | Global HeartDavid Flood (Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Michigan, United Stated of America) & Sang Gune (Kyle) Yoo (Fellow, Washington University School of Medicine in St.Louis, United States of America): Aspirin for Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in 51 Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries | Cardiology | JAMA | JAMA Network | JAMA
4/16/24 • 25:48
Send us Fan MailIn this first episode of our new podcast series ‘Global Heart Podcast', World Heart Federation Science Advisor Pablo Perel and Global Heart Journal Editor-in-chief Rick Grobbee discuss recent global cardiovascular research on hypertension and explain findings and implications with lead authors of the papers.Vilma Irazola (Director, Department of Chronic Diseases, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Argentina): Implementation outcomes and strategies for delivering evidence-based hypertension interventions in lower-middle-income countries: Evidence from a multi-country consortium for hypertension control |PLOS ONEAnthony Rodgers (Professor of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia): Rationale for a new low-dose triple single pill combination for the treatment of hypertension | Global HeartThomas Gaziano (Associate Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, United States): Results of a Remotely Delivered Hypertension and Lipid Program in More Than 10 000 Patients Across a Diverse Health Care Network | PubMed
1/25/24 • 46:14
Send us Fan MailIn this second episode of our new podcast series 'Data at the Heart', journalist Tony Johnston talks to Sarah Des Rosiers, Director of Health Equity at the Novartis Foundation. Sarah manages strategic public-private partnerships to advance the response against cardiovascular diseases worldwide, leveraging the power of data and digital for population health impact. The World Heart Observatory is the first global data hub for cardiovascular conditions and risk factors. It combines data from different sources to provide the latest, most accurate information on the global burden of cardiovascular disease: https://worldheartobservatory.org/This episode is supported by Novartis Foundation.
12/12/23 • 27:13
Send us Fan MailIn this first episode of our new podcast series 'Data at the Heart', journalist Tony Johnston engages in a compelling conversation with Mariachiara Di Cesare, Professor in Population Studies and Global Health and Director of the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing at the University of Essex. Chiara has played a pivotal role in shaping the World Heart Federation's World Heart Observatory and is lead author of the World Heart Report 2023.The World Heart Observatory is the first global data hub for cardiovascular conditions and risk factors. It combines data from different sources to provide the latest, most accurate information on the global burden of cardiovascular disease: https://worldheartobservatory.org/ This episode is supported by Novartis Foundation.
12/4/23 • 31:36
Send us Fan MailA limited-edition podcast series on women and cardiovascular healthWomen and cardiovascular health is a topic close to our hearts and at the centre of the activities of many of our Members. This year, our podcast Conversations from the Heart will take a deep dive into gender equity as a way of improving heart health for everyone. To mark International Women's Day 2022, we are kicking off with women in cardiology: the role they play in the workforce, in patient-physician relationships and in changing the culture of cardiology. We speak with two young cardiologists from Sri Lanka and Iraq, who are at the forefront of promoting gender equity and who are also WHF’s Emerging Leaders. Aaysha Cader is an interventional cardiologist originally from Sri Lanka and currently working at the Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital & Research Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Zainab Atiyah Dakhil, is an academic and interventional cardiologist working at Ibn AlBitar Cardiac Centre Baghdad, Iraq. They share with our listeners the source of their drive to help people and why they chose cardiology, despite the hurdles they encountered along the way.
3/7/22 • 25:21
Send us Fan MailJoin us to listen to the Interview of Prof Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India and formerly headed the Department of Cardiology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences.Widely regarded as a leader of preventive cardiology at national and international levels, Reddy has been a researcher, teacher, policy enabler, advocate and activist who has worked to promote cardiovascular health, tobacco control, appropriate nutrition across the life course, chronic disease prevention and healthy living across the lifespan.
11/23/21 • 27:13
Send us Fan MailToday, we have the pleasure to speak with Prof. Liesl Zuhlke, a paediatric cardiologist in Cape Town, an emerging leader in cardiovascular medicine on the African continent. If you check her biography online you will find out that her major research interests lie in Rheumatic Heart Disease and congenital heart disease but today we will offer more than this to our listeners, we will find out from her about her life, her passions, and fears, why she chose this path in life, what inspires her, and what she sees as a hurdle in her job and globally in public health.
7/12/21 • 24:11
Send us Fan MailToday we have the pleasure to speak with Prof Salim Yusuf, a renowned cardiologist, WHF Past President, Distinguished Professor of Medicine at McMaster University and Executive Director of the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI).For the last 40 years, his research has played a key role in improving CVD treatment and prevention in different parts of the world.
4/27/21 • 27:40
