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World Heart Day

NP-IE-100914 | September 2026

This editorial is part of a disease awareness campaign commissioned and funded by Boehringer Ingelheim to support public awareness of the connection between heart and kidney health and the importance of earlier detection.

“Around 80% of CVD deaths are caused by preventable and manageable risk factors.”

“EU Screening Week is about increased personal self-awareness and individual action.”

Borjana Pervan, CEO, World Heart Federation

Professor Brendan McAdam, President, Irish Cardiac Society

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‘Don’t Miss a Beat’ urges decisive action to prevent causes of CVD Causing about 20 million deaths a year or around one in three deaths globally, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the world’s leading cause of death.1

Borjana Pervan CEO, World Heart Federation

owever, there’s hope, knowing that around 80% of CVD deaths are caused by preventable and manageable risk factors2 — with the right tools and access to care. So, can we properly tackle CVD? Its signs and symptoms are often overlooked, ignored or misunderstood. By raising awareness, encouraging healthier lifestyles and calling on governments to prioritise heart health, we can meet the challenge. On 29 September, World Heart Day unites everyone through the ‘Don’t Miss a Beat’ campaign.

Know the CVD signs, make a change

CVD often hides in plain sight. Consider this: in many parts of the world, women’s CVD symptoms are missed or misdiagnosed; treatable and manageable high blood pressure is a leading risk for cardiovascular disease; and congenital heart disease is a common birth defect, yet many cases are missed at birth. Even small adjustments in nutrition, physical activity, adequate rest and stress management can help our hearts work better. Just 30 minutes of daily exercise could help tackle many CVD cases. Yet, on average, one in three adults are not moving enough.3

The Keep the Beat challenge encourages us all to make simple, daily changes to routines throughout September and beyond — and to motivate others with stories of progress.

Make a national plan

There should be no assumptions when it comes to cardiovascular disease: men, women, old or young can be affected; acknowledging this is key to creating access to affordable care for everyone. Despite CVD being the world’s number one cause of death, fewer than 20 countries have a national plan to tackle the disease. Don’t Miss a Beat is about stepping up action for heart health from policies to care systems and the everyday actions that make for thriving communities everywhere. 1

2 3

World Health Organization, 2025. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). tinyurl.com/ ywekzdcu. World Heart Federation. tinyurl.com/2z8jksjh. World Health Organization. Physical activity. tinyurl.com/ax3yv28v.

Life after cardiac rehabilitation For people living with cardiovascular disease, recovery doesn’t end when hospital treatment or cardiac rehabilitation finishes. Secondary prevention provides continued support to reduce future risk. Support beyond cardiac rehabilitation

W Aisling Harris Cardiac & Weight Management Dietitian, Croí

hile ‘primary prevention’ focuses on reducing a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease or having a heart attack or stroke, ‘secondary prevention’ focuses on reducing the risk of another event in someone who already has cardiovascular disease. While many people make an excellent recovery and return to normal life, they continue to live with cardiovascular disease or an increased risk of another event and therefore require ongoing management. This includes treatment to control risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose alongside support to stop smoking, eat well, be physically active and care for psychological wellbeing.

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While cardiac rehabilitation is crucial for recovery, maintaining changes after a structured programme can be challenging. Many people find it difficult to balance their new habits and behaviours with a return to their normal life. Some people report anxiety or may lack confidence about returning to their usual activities. Others may feel overwhelmed by nutrition or lifestyle advice. Ongoing support after cardiac rehabilitation can help people build confidence, understand their own health and make sustainable behaviour changes to improve their health. Long-term changes are more likely to last when they’re realistic, gradual and built into everyday life. Setting achievable goals, planning for challenges and having ongoing support can also make it easier to

maintain healthy habits over time.

Healthy hearts for life

At Croí Heart and Stroke Charity in Galway, the Healthy Hearts Club, a pilot project within JACARDI, a Joint Action of the European Union, is an example of secondary prevention in action. The programme provides six months of ongoing, holistic support following cardiac rehabilitation. Participants receive regular checkins through nurse phone calls and attend group workshops centred around nutrition, emotional wellbeing and exercise. By supporting both physical and psychological health in an environment that fosters peer support, the programme aims to help people build confidence and integrate healthy habits into their daily lives, supporting long-term heart health and wellbeing.

Contact information: mpukie@mediaplanet.com or +44 (0) 203 642 0737

For more information about heart health and stroke prevention, please visit www.croi.ie

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A new generation of heart attack detection Heart attack symptoms aren’t one-sizefits-all. High-sensitivity testing is closing the cardiac care gap.

D Roz Green Clinical Marketing Partner, Roche Diagnostics UK and Ireland

ifferences in how heart attacks present, and whether they’re recognised, mean that some patients face additional challenges and delays in diagnosis. Women are 50% more likely to receive the wrong initial diagnosis when experiencing a heart attack.1 This is a reminder that heart attack diagnosis is complex and that the tools, evidence and pathways that support clinical decisions matter.

A familiar, but incomplete, picture

new technology, clinicians may opt to use sex-specific thresholds, depending on the assay, local pathway and clinical judgement. The aim is to reduce the risk of heart attacks in women being overlooked. It’s an important development because equality in healthcare starts with recognising that the same approach doesn’t work equally well for everyone.

What difference can a new test make?

A new generation of cardiac troponin testing, using Ask someone to picture a heart attack, and there’s a good Roche Diagnostics’ Elecsys® Troponin T hs Gen 6 chance they’ll imagine sudden, acute pain, perhaps assay, is being introduced in the UK and Ireland at St. someone clutching their chest. It’s a familiar image, but Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin. This assay, with it’s also incomplete. sex-specific thresholds, will give clinicians working in a Heart attacks can present in different ways. Women busy emergency department access to more analytically may experience chest pain, but they may also experience sensitive troponin testing. unusual fatigue, nausea, However, innovation in breathlessness or discomfort emergency care isn’t only about in the back or jaw.2 Symptoms what a test can detect, but also don’t always follow the script about making those tests more Women are 50% more likely to that most people expect, and reliable and robust. For example, receive the wrong initial diagnosis haemolysis is a relatively when the script changes, the response needs to change, too. word for when experiencing a heart attack. technical-sounding something that can have a very What can change the practical consequence. Red picture? blood cells can break down Doctors and nurses have lots in a blood sample, interfering of clinical information to work with to determine a with the result. If that happens with a troponin test, the heart attack, including symptoms and an ECG. Another sample may have to be rejected, and the patient may important piece comes from a simple blood test that need to give blood again. Repeat testing can delay clinical measures a protein called troponin.3 Troponin is released decision-making in moments when answers are needed into the blood when the heart muscle is damaged. quickly. Measuring it can help clinicians determine a heart attack. The Elecsys® Troponin T hs Gen 6 assay is designed Sometimes, the blood test is repeated to see whether the to be significantly more resistant to haemolysis than level is rising or falling, giving the clinical team a clearer previous generations.7 That can mean fewer unusable 4 picture of what’s happening. samples and fewer repeat blood draws, helping patients The latest high-sensitivity tests can detect much and clinicians get answers sooner, while taking some smaller amounts of troponin. That means clinicians have avoidable pressure off emergency departments and more information to work with, particularly when the laboratories. These may sound like small improvements, answer isn’t immediately obvious. but in a busy emergency department, they can have a big This matters for women, as they generally have lower impact. levels of troponin than men.5 Historically, diagnostic Closing gaps in heart attack diagnosis will take more approaches have used one threshold for women and men, research, greater awareness, effective clinical pathways which may have made some heart attacks in women and collaboration across healthcare. Every improvement harder to identify. in the way heart attacks are recognised, investigated and The latest international definition of a heart attack diagnosed brings us closer to a system that works better takes this difference into account, incorporating separate for everyone. troponin thresholds for women and men.6 And with

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How simple tests can identify hidden risks of heart and kidney disease You can look and feel well but still be living with hidden heart and kidney risk. That’s why earlier conversations with healthcare providers and simple checks are so important.

I Dr Matthew Barrett Consultant Cardiologist in St Vincent’s University Hospital and HSE Community Health Organisation 6 Integrated Care Lead with the Irish National Heart Office

This article forms part of a disease awareness campaign commissioned and funded by Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Matthew Barrett was compensated for his time and expertise in contributing to this content. The views expressed are his own.

f you have concerns that you may be at risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD) or diabetes, don’t wait. Understand that all these conditions are linked — and speak to a healthcare professional. Because the fact is, our heart and our kidneys rely on the same network of blood vessels, so a failure in one organ can often lead to complications in the other.

Heart and kidney health are interconnected

“If your heart isn’t working well, it may not be filtering blood through your kidneys properly, which can put them under pressure,” explains Dr Matthew Barrett, Cardiologist, St Vincent’s Hospital Healthcare Group. “Equally, if your kidneys aren’t filtering your blood properly, it can cause pressure to build up in your heart, making it work harder. It’s a two-way process.” Cardiorenal metabolic conditions (CRM) such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and obesity can damage blood vessels, putting you at particular risk of kidney damage and therefore heart problems. So, Dr Barrett’s advice is to get your blood pressure checked (easy to do at local community pharmacies) and, if you have any concerns, have an early conversation with your GP.

Simple tests to check your kidney function and protect your heart

That’s especially important because, in its early stages, kidney disease

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Research shows that albuminuria — too much blood protein in the urine — increases the risk of heart-related problems. progresses without symptoms. That means you can look and feel well but still be living with hidden heart and kidney risk. Where appropriate, simple tests are available to check your kidney function, notes Dr Barrett. “Your GP may recommend that you have a blood test,” he says. “Crucially, you should also be offered a urine test called the urine albumin-tocreatinine ratio (uACR).” Research shows that albuminuria — too much blood protein in the urine — increases the risk of heart-related problems. Thankfully, treatments are available for the issues that cause kidney damage, such as blood pressure and diabetes, says Dr Barrett. “We also have medications that protect the kidneys, and if an element of stress or damage is found, prevent it from progressing. It’s really changed our ability to treat kidney disease. Help is available. Talk to your GP, get treatment — and then follow up to make sure the medication is adequately controlling the condition.”

People aged ≥65 years with CKD are ~6 times more likely to die of CV causes than develop kidney failure.1

People living with conditions such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), compared to those without T2D have a three fold greater risk of developing CVD.2

More than 1 in 7 people aged 50+ have CKD in Ireland (>200,000 people).3

CKD is common and is rising among adults in Ireland.4

1 2

Dalrymple LS et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2011;26:379 Irish Heart Foundation [accessed September 2026] https://irishheart.ie/ heart-and-stroke-conditions-a-z/diabetes-and-your-heart/ Nowak Chronic Kidney Disease in community-dwelling adults aged 50+ years in Ireland. Pg7 [accessed September 2026]. Available at https:// tilda.tcd.ie/publications/reports/pdf/Report_CKD.pdf Based on TILDA data collected from 2009–2011 and 2014–2015

NP-IE-100916 | September 2026

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Rapid Access Chest Pain service celebrates 10 years of specialised care The Rapid Access Chest Pain (RACP) service at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) is celebrating 10 years of providing specialised care to patients presenting with chest pain.

he service is led by Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) Amanda Casey and Angela Clancy, under the clinical governance of Consultant Cardiologist Dr Samer Arnous and is supported by our dedicated Clerical Officer, Diane Spellman.

Amanda Casey Rapid Access Chest Pain CNS, University Hospital Limerick

Rising CVD spurs cardiac care

The RACP service was established in response to the growing number of patients presenting to emergency department with chest pain and the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In Ireland, almost 9,000 people die annually from CVD-related causes, while Central Statistics Office figures show that CVD accounted for 28% of deaths in 2023, making it the country’s second leading cause of death. Chest pain can have many causes, ranging from relatively benign conditions such as musculoskeletal pain, anxiety and gastrointestinal

Angela Clancy Rapid Access Chest Pain CNS, University Hospital Limerick

disorders to potentially lifethreatening events including acute coronary syndrome, aortic dissection and pulmonary embolism.

coronary angiograms, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring and Holter monitoring.

Rapid chest pain pathway

Faster diagnosis and healthier outcomes

The RACP service provides two referral pathways for UHL patients. Inpatients can receive a same-day review where appropriate, while the outpatient pathway aims to provide a virtual review within 72 hours of discharge and a clinic appointment within two weeks. During assessment, the Clinical Nurse Specialists take a detailed history and assess cardiovascular risk factors including smoking, cholesterol, blood pressure, family history, body mass index and diabetes. Working alongside senior cardiac clinicians, they determine the appropriate diagnosis, investigations and care plan. Where required, the service can arrange a range of cardiac investigations, including exercise stress tests, echocardiograms, CT coronary angiograms, diagnostic

Over the past decade, the service has had a positive impact on patient care, supporting the early diagnosis of coronary heart disease, helping to reduce waiting times, avoid unnecessary hospital admissions and expedite discharge with estimated savings of approximately €9.53 million. While a key objective is to identify or rule out coronary artery disease and determine which patients may require invasive angiography, the service also plays an important role in preventing future cardiovascular events. Through assessment, education and risk-factor modification, the RACP team supports patients in making informed decisions about their health and encourages healthier lifestyles.

Sponsored by University Hospital Limerick

More information available at

Turning the tide on cardiovascular disease through screening, prevention and partnership

On World Heart Day and EU Screening Week 2026, it’s crucial for people to know their key health numbers to spot risks earlier and make lifestyle changes.

any people feel healthy but may still have silent risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood sugar and increased weight. These can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and other cardiometabolic conditions.

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A vision for Ireland’s cardiovascular future: earlier action, better outcomes and a chance to lead in Europe Cardiovascular disease does not begin when someone arrives at an emergency department with symptoms. It often begins years earlier through risk factors that could be identified, managed and, in many cases, prevented.

ardiovascular disease is Europe’s biggest disease burden. It claims 1.7 million lives annually, affects a further 60 million people, and costs the continent more than €282 billion every year.1

Reimagining Ireland’s cardiovascular health system

Samantha Humphreys MD of MSD Ireland (Human Health)

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treatment and effective rehabilitation. We need to think about cardiovascular health as a continuum, from prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation to long-term care. That is also important in the context of the inequalities just highlighted, as access to these cannot depend on where someone lives, their gender or their circumstances.

Aligning Ireland with EU heart goals

Encouragingly, we do not have to look far for solutions. The EU Safe Hearts Plan sets a clear ambition to cut premature cardiovascular deaths by 25% by 2035 and expand routine cardiovascular health checks across Europe. At home, the national review of adult specialist cardiac services provides an additional foundation for reform, while the Government has already committed to a new national cardiovascular strategy. The opportunity now is to bring these strands together to create a more ambitious and integrated approach. Ireland’s first cardiovascular strategy should align with European standards while setting clear ambitions of its own. At its heart should be a new national cardiovascular health-check framework, centred on a proposed ‘Know Your Numbers’ cardiovascular risk-assessment initiative and aligned with emerging European recommendations on earlier cardiovascular health checks to identify key risk factors before they lead to serious disease. The forthcoming European Council recommendation on cardiovascular health checks provides a timely opportunity to translate these ambitions into practical action and for Ireland to demonstrate leadership during its EU Presidency.

A measurable and patient-centred strategy

The new strategy should bring together Government, clinicians, patients, researchers, public-health experts, patient organisations and industry around a small number of shared, measurable goals. It should also define how we measure progress: are we detecting risk earlier? Are people receiving timely preventive care, appropriate treatment and access to rehabilitation? Are inequalities narrowing? Most importantly, are we saving more of the 9,000 lives lost each year? Europe has set the benchmark; Ireland now has the opportunity to build a cardiovascular strategy fit for the future, centred on patients and measured by its ability to save and improve lives through earlier prevention, detection and treatment. 1

EU cardiovascular health plan: the Safe Hearts Plan. Cardiovascular health Public Health - European Commission. Last accessed: 21 September 2026. Irish Heart Foundation, Strategic Plan, 2025-2028. Last accessed: 21 September 2026. Croí. The Future of Cardiovascular Health in Ireland – A Manifesto for Change. Available at: Manifesto_Final_120424-ECOPY.pdf. Last accessed: 21 September 2026. World Heart Federation. CVD Prevention. CVD Prevention | What We Do | World Heart Federation Last accessed: 21 September 2026.

Find out more about EU Screening Week:

Further references available upon request. Veeva Code: IE-NON-00756. Date of preparation: September 2026

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An ounce of prevention starts with knowing your pulse and blood pressure Pay attention to your heart health before a serious event, like heart disease or stroke, occurs. Start by knowing your pulse and your blood pressure.

or generations, preventing heart disease meant eating healthier, exercising, quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy weight. Those habits remain the foundation of good heart health. Today, prevention also means detecting problems earlier. Two simple habits can make a difference: know your pulse and know your blood pressure.

Trudie Lobban MBE CEO, Arrhythmia Alliance

Consequences of high blood pressure

About one in three people with high blood pressure don’t even know they have it.1,2 Even fewer realise it also increases the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common heart rhythm disorder.3 In AF, the upper chambers of the heart beat fast and irregularly instead of keeping a normal rhythm. Both conditions increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.4,5 People with high blood pressure have about a 50% higher risk of developing AF than those with healthy blood pressure.6

not replace medical care. If you notice an irregular pulse or an abnormal blood pressure reading, talk with your healthcare professional, who can recommend appropriate tests and treatment if needed.

Know how to protect heart health

Sometimes the first step toward prevention is simply knowing: knowing your pulse, knowing your blood pressure, knowing when something isn’t normal. This awareness can help you recognise problems earlier, start important conversations with your healthcare team and take an active role in protecting your heart. 1

Silent conditions need monitoring

One of the biggest challenges is that both high blood pressure and AF can be silent conditions; you may have no symptoms and feel completely well.7 Without regular monitoring, they may go undetected until a serious event occurs. Monitoring is easier than ever. Home blood pressure monitors can help you track your readings over time. Some devices can also record an ECG that may help detect an irregular heart rhythm.8 Learning to check your pulse is another simple, free skill you can do anywhere. It helps you recognise what is normal for you and when something has changed. However, home monitoring does

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Office for National Statistics. 2023. Risk factors for undiagnosed high blood pressure in England: 2015 to 2019. tinyurl.com/yc6ffwr5. Fryar, C. D. et al., 2024. sion prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control among adults age 18 and older: United States, August 2021–August 2023 (NCHS Data Brief No. 511). National Center for Health Statistics. https://doi. org/10.15620/cdc/164016 Gawałko, M., et al. 2024. Diet and risk of atrial fibrillation: a systematic review, European Heart Journal, Volume 45, Issue 40. doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ ehae551. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. 2019. Hypertension in adults: Diagnosis and management (NG136). NICE. nice.org.uk/guidance/ng136 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. 2021. Atrial fibrillation: Diagnosis and management (NG196). NICE. nice.org.uk/guidance/ng196 Aune D., 2023. Blood pressure, hypertension and the risk of atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Eur J Epidemiol. 2023 Feb;38(2):145-178. doi: 10.1007/s10654-022-00914-0. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. 2021. Atrial fibrillation: Diagnosis and management (NG196). NICE. nice.org.uk/guidance/ng196 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. 2019. Lead-I ECG devices for detecting symptomatic atrial fibrillation using single time point testing in primary care (HTG508). NICE. nice.org.uk/guidance/htg508

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