Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the Philippines, accounting for 72 percent of fatalities in the country in 2021, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Health experts warn that CVDs can lead to heart failure, with advanced heart failure potentially requiring a transplant as the ultimate treatment.

The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) estimates that around 64 million individuals worldwide are diagnosed with heart failure.

During the PHA’s “Usapang Puso sa Puso” forum on Sunday, Dr. Liberty Yaneza, head of the heart failure section at the Philippine Heart Center (PHC), noted that patients with existing heart conditions, hypertension, or diabetes are at higher risk of developing heart failure, and eventually advanced heart failure, a stage where conventional treatments are no longer effective.

Yaneza urged the public to prioritize the prevention of heart diseases, blood vessel disorders, and stroke by adopting healthier lifestyles and seeking regular medical consultations.

Dr. Jun Aventura Jr., PHA director and PHC executive director, highlighted the growing concern over heart failure in the Philippines.

Aventura said that a heart transplant is the definitive treatment for advanced heart failure and is now available at the PHC, although it carries a significant cost.

While other tertiary hospitals in the country perform liver and kidney transplants, as well as cataract surgery, the PHC is currently the only hospital with a Heart Transplant Program, which was relaunched in 2024.

The PHC Heart Transplant Program Team is currently undergoing a series of training sessions abroad and is in the process of accepting referrals.

“Let’s not wait until heart failure reaches a serious level before taking action. Early detection and actually doing something about it are two different things,” Aventura cautioned.

Yaneza emphasized that heart failure “is a serious health issue” in the country.

Citing recent studies, Yaneza said heart failure has a prevalence rate of approximately 1.6 percent, meaning about 16 out of every 1,000 adult Filipinos are affected.

“This is concerning since heart failure is a common cause of hospitalization, leading to high healthcare costs and a lower quality of life for patients,” she added.