In order to positively affect health care, prevent cardiovascular disease, and improve overall health, we must work collectively from an individual level, reaching patients and the population around us, as well as on a global level, with national and international cardiovascular organizations. 

Through government regulations and legislation, we can affect heart care in a significant way that complements — and at times, surpasses — the impact of our individual care of patients. For example, supporting health care systems and supporting legislation that discourages the use of tobacco can result in a substantial, large-scale impact on the world’s populations. 

The Global Cardiovascular Disease Taskforce was initially formed in 2011 from the leadership of the American College of Cardiology, World Heart Federation, American Heart Association, and the European Society of Cardiology to address these issues on a global scale. The emphasis for formation of the Taskforce was the looming discussion on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at the United Nations, and the need to speak with one voice regarding cardiovascular disease prevention and management within the non-communicable disease focus. The Taskforce now has representation from various professional organizations and foundations interested in cardiovascular health, under the umbrella of the World Heart Federation. 

The goal of the Taskforce is to globally and regionally advocate for the reduction in cardiovascular disease, mortality, and morbidity, by joining with various professional organizations and foundations that share this ultimate goal. The Taskforce is aligned with an overarching goal of the World Health Organization (WHO) to decrease premature mortality from non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, by 25 percent by the year 2025 — this is called the 25 by 25 goal, or 25x25.

The Taskforce’s purpose is to translate scientific evidence into multi-stakeholder strategies and policies for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease in alignment with the 25x25 global target: 

• Developing and publishing metrics around the 25x25 target that are specific to CVD.
• Shaping and supporting cardiovascular disease language in NCD communications and national plans.
• Coordinating and aligning efforts around implementation of the CVD-related objectives under the 25x25 global target, with a particular focus on reducing tobacco use as well as hypertension, and improving secondary prevention and rehabilitation of CVD, and other WHO targets.

Through these commitments, we are ensuring that the United Nations Political Declaration of 25x25 and its aspiration to reduce the burden of NCDs are implemented to improve the health of all populations. 

The Taskforce’s goals are aligned with the overarching goal of the United Nations in reducing mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, the target goals that were set by the World Health Organization — the reduction in hypertension, salt intake, diabetes, and obesity, as well as an increase in physical activity and availability of medications — are inherent to the overall arching goal. The Taskforce is advocating for resources to achieve these goals on a regional level and within nations. 

The immediate focus of the Taskforce is to ensure through education and advocacy that NCDs, including cardiovascular disease, are included in the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and World Health Organization. This would ensure a focus on reduction of NCDs and appropriate resources for the next 15 years. Data on global and regional cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, and forecasts of such, will also be obtained to be published for increased awareness of the burden of disease and much needed national action plans. Advocacy for inclusion of the NCD agenda in national health care plans through various chapters and members of the professional organizations represented in the Taskforce and World Heart Federation in general will be a focus.

The Taskforce will proactively keep cardiovascular disease as a global issue by advocating through all the members of the World Heart Federation to focus the efforts of governments and professional organizations — both regional and global — on the United Nations goal of 25x25. Furthermore, the Taskforce will provide data on forecasting cardiovascular disease mortality and morbidity rates, on a global scale and in specific regions of the world, to monitor progress and energize the need for action.

We must continue to collectively advocate for regional, national, and global resources, and maintain international focus to achieve the goal to reduce premature cardiovascular mortality by 25 percent in the year 2025. The fight against the burden of cardiovascular disease is an individual and global imperative.      

Global Cardiovascular Disease Taskforce Member Organizations

The World Heart Federation’s Global Cardiovascular Disease Taskforce is comprised of cardiologists and health advocates from the African Heart Network, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, Asia Pacific Heart Network, Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology, European Heart Network, European Society of Cardiology, InterAmerican Heart Foundation, Inter-American Society of Cardiology, Pan-African Society of Cardiology, and the World Heart Federation.

Global Cardiovascular Disease Taskforce Members

• William Zoghbi, Co-Chair, Global Cardiovascular Disease Taskforce – American College of Cardiology
• Tony Duncan, Co-Chair, Global Cardiovascular Disease Taskforce – Asia Pacific Heart Network
• Marcia Barbosa – InterAmerican Heart Foundation
• Beatriz Champagne – InterAmerican Heart Foundation
• Deborah Chen – World Heart Federation
• Habib Gamra – African Heart Network
• John Harold – American College of Cardiology
• Staffan Josephson – European Heart Network
• Mariell Jessup – American Heart Association
• Susanne Logstrup – European Heart Network
• Bongani Mayosi – Pan-African Society of Cardiology
• Ralph Sacco – American Heart Association
• KH Sim – Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology
• Sidney Smith – World Heart Federation
• Panos Vardas/Michel Komajda – European Society of Cardiology
• David Wood – European Society of Cardiology

World Heart Federation

The World Heart Federation is dedicated to leading the global fight against heart disease and stroke, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries, via a united community of more than 200 member organizations. With its members, the World Heart Federation works to build global commitment to addressing cardiovascular health at the policy level, generates and exchanges ideas, shares best practice, advances scientific knowledge, and promotes knowledge transfer to tackle cardiovascular disease — the world’s number one killer. It is a growing membership organization that brings together the strength of cardiac societies and heart foundations from more than 100 countries. Through our collective efforts, we can help people all over the world to lead longer and better heart-healthy lives. 

American College of Cardiology

The American College of Cardiology is a 47,000-member medical society that is the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team. The mission of the College is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College operates national registries to measure and improve care, provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research, and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet stringent qualifications. For more information, visit cardiosource.org/ACC. 

William A. Zoghbi, MD, FASE, FAHA, MACC is the Co-Chair of the World Heart Federation’s Global Cardiovascular Disease Taskforce. He has also served as the Past President of the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Zoghbi is the Director of the Cardiovascular Imaging Institute, an Elkins Family Distinguished Chair in Cardiac Health, and Professor of Medicine at The Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center in Houston, Texas.