< Back to all articles Share this article Wednesday September 29th, 2021 Use heart to connect this World Heart Day Use heart to connect The World Heart Federation (WHF) is the leading voice in raising awareness of the universal fight against cardiovascular disease (CVD). This year, on World Heart Day, 29th September, the campaign is asking the world to ‘Use Heart to connect’. For the 520 million people living with CVD, COVID-19 has been heart-breaking. They have been more at risk of developing severe forms of the virus. Many have been afraid to attend routine and emergency appointments and have become isolated from friends and family. The World Heart Federation It’s easy to feel vulnerable when it comes to your health. We have spent the last 18 months being bombarded with statistics and uncertainty during the pandemic. The World Heart Federation reports that CVD remains the world’s number one killer, resulting in 17.9 million deaths a year, representing 32% of all global deaths, according to the World Health Organisation. This costs the UK £9 billion per year on healthcare for heart and circulatory disease. It has many causes: smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity and even air pollution. The pandemic has exacerbated cardiovascular disease burden, as the infection can lead to or accentuate heart complications including arrhythmias and heart failure. The healthcare industry has been quick to reassure us that we are not powerless, even against a global pandemic. As individuals we need more than reassurance. That’s where the partnership between healthcare and technology is vital. This partnership puts technology into the patients hands, allowing them to monitor their own health, providing the information and reassurance they need. Telemedicine and the future of heart failure Healthcare is rapidly shifting away from a traditional doctor-centric treatment model to an open consumer-driven movement. The public’s greater awareness of the impact of lifestyle choices, combined with technology that allows individuals to take control of their health is leading to a more preventive health and wellness system as opposed to reactive one. The use of telemedicine in heart failure patients creates flexibility whilst also ensuring clinical accuracy. Creating a hospital-at-home environment through the use of medically trusted, innovated, and efficient remote monitoring solutions is critical for vulnerable and anxious patients as well as providing support to the healthcare services.