Medical symposia on non-communicable diseases in Cuba

Cuba has initiated a series of medical symposia focused on addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and cardiovascular health.

In Havana, medical experts recently concluded the IV Cuban Symposium on Heart Failure and the I Cuban Symposium on Cardiomyopathies and Rare Cardiac Diseases. These sessions addressed advancements in congenital defects, rare cardiac diseases, and channelopathies. Eduardo Rivas, president of the Cuban Society of Cardiology, emphasized the need to improve patient quality of life, noting that while global research and new drugs are advancing, patient outcomes remain deficient. Rivas highlighted the severity of the crisis, noting that over 32,000 Cubans died from cardiovascular causes in 2024. Organizers maintained that more than 80 percent of heart failure causes are preventable through primary healthcare management of risk factors. Discussions also stressed the necessity of adapting international clinical guidelines to the Caribbean context, as European guidelines often omit regional specificities like Chagas disease and certain rheumatic illnesses prevalent in Latin America.

Looking forward, Cuba will host an international symposium under the theme ‘For an integrated, sanitary and social vision in the approach to non-communicable diseases and their risk factors.’ This event aims to facilitate knowledge exchange regarding the prevention, detection, and treatment of NCDs. The symposium will address the high incidence and mortality rates of chronic diseases, associated disabilities, mental health issues, and health challenges related to aging, noting that NCDs account for approximately 41 million deaths annually, or 71 percent of all deaths worldwide.