World Heart Podcasts

World Heart Federation

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.

  1. Global Heart Podcast: Hypertension Control – Blood Pressure Measurement, Treatment & Scale

    May 27

    Global Heart Podcast: Hypertension Control – Blood Pressure Measurement, Treatment & Scale

    Send us Fan Mail In 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/9789240110953 Comparison of dual therapies for hypertension treatment in India: a randomized clinical trial (Nature Medicine): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03854-w Wearables and Cuffless Blood Pressure Measurement – Evidence, Challenges, and Clinical Perspectives: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41371-024-00932-3 Research Priorities for Hypertension Control and Blood Pressure Measurement: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12826266/

    41 min
  2. Global Heart Podcast: Rethinking Salt: A New Path to Tackling Hypertension

    May 11

    Global Heart Podcast: Rethinking Salt: A New Path to Tackling Hypertension

    Send us Fan Mail In 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/9789240105591 Read more about the Salt Substitute and Stroke Study (SSaSS): https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/clinical-trials/2021/08/26/01/19/ssass Further reading: World Heart Federation – Hypertension Resources https://world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/hypertension/ European Hypertension Guidelines https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/45/38/3912/7741010

    35 min
  3. Global Heart Podcast: Long COVID and Cardiovascular Disease: What We Know Now

    Mar 31

    Global Heart Podcast: Long COVID and Cardiovascular Disease: What We Know Now

    Send us Fan Mail In 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.1452 Vaccination and prevention of Long COVID (Nature Communications) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-65302-0 Long-term follow-up in a specialist post-COVID service in the UK (BMJ Open) https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/16/1/e103884.long

    39 min
  4. Conversations from the Heart: Living with Heart Failure

    Feb 27

    Conversations from the Heart: Living with Heart Failure

    Send us Fan Mail This 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.com Documentary – My Broken Heart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF7Pv7EZ308&t=308s HeartLife Academy: https://heartlife.academy HeartLife: https://heartlife.com

    43 min
  5. Conversations from the Heart: The Patient Voices of ATTR-CM - A Journey of Diagnosis, Resilience, and Hope

    10/26/2025

    Conversations from the Heart: The Patient Voices of ATTR-CM - A Journey of Diagnosis, Resilience, and Hope

    Send us Fan Mail World 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.

    1h 4m
  6. Mendelian Randomisation in Cardiovascular Research - Assumptions, Pitfalls & Practice

    09/26/2025

    Mendelian Randomisation in Cardiovascular Research - Assumptions, Pitfalls & Practice

    Send us Fan Mail Host 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.

    28 min
  7. Global Heart Podcast: Field Lessons from Ethiopia - Real World Insights in Hypertension Care

    07/28/2025

    Global Heart Podcast: Field Lessons from Ethiopia - Real World Insights in Hypertension Care

    Send us Fan Mail In 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

    34 min
  8. Conversations from the Heart: Living with Angina

    06/27/2025

    Conversations from the Heart: Living with Angina

    Send us Fan Mail This 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.

    32 min
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    World Heart Federation
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 World Heart Podcasts
  • Show Website
    World Heart Podcasts