World Heart Podcasts

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

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1764982/fan_mail/new] 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 [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 [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/ [https://world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/hypertension/] * European Hypertension Guidelines https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/45/38/3912/7741010 [https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/45/38/3912/7741010]

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

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1764982/fan_mail/new] 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 [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 [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 [https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/16/1/e103884.long]

Conversations from the Heart: Living with Heart Failure

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1764982/fan_mail/new] 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/ [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41032214/] Blog – Heart Failure to Harvard: https://heartfailuretoharvard.com [https://heartfailuretoharvard.com/] Documentary – My Broken Heart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF7Pv7EZ308&t=308s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF7Pv7EZ308&t=308s] HeartLife Academy: https://heartlife.academy [https://heartlife.academy/] HeartLife: https://heartlife.com [https://heartlife.com/]

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

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1764982/fan_mail/new] World Heart Federation [http://www.worldheart.org] host Shreya Shrikhande speaks with Mike Lane from the Amyloidosis Army [https://www.amyloidosisarmy.org/]and David Gregory from the Amyloidosis Alliance [https://www.amyloidosisalliance.org/] 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 [https://world-heart-federation.org/transthyretin-amyloid-cardiomyopathy-attr-cm/].

Mendelian Randomisation in Cardiovascular Research - Assumptions, Pitfalls & Practice

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1764982/fan_mail/new] 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 [https://globalheartjournal.com/articles/10.5334/gh.1444]  and  Mendelian Randomisation: Concepts, Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Directions [https://globalheartjournal.com/articles/10.5334/gh.1438].