Give New Hope For Patients, Heart Care Innovation Comes Closer

JAKARTA - Cardiovascular disease or heart disease is still one of the main causes of death worldwide, including Indonesia. Data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health states that heart disease occupies the top two positions as the cause of death in the country, with a figure of around 1.5 million people every year.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) places heart disease in the top three causes of death in Indonesia. Although the prevalence is high, many Indonesians are not aware of the risk of this disease until its symptoms worsen, making it dubbed the 'silent killer'.

Coinciding with World Heart Day this year, IHH Healthcare Singapore, through hospital networks such as Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, Gleneas Hospital, and Parkway East Hospital, invites the Indonesian people to be more vigilant in maintaining heart health through preventive activities, routine checks, and carrying out timely treatment with available medical innovations.

New alternative to open heart surgery

For decades, open heart surgery is a major choice for patients with advanced heart valve disease. However, for elderly patients or those who have comorbid diseases, the risk and long recovery period of this procedure is a big challenge.

Now, medical care innovation has presented a new breakthrough in the treatment of heart disease. One of them is minimal invasive procedures such as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) and Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER), which are available on the IHH Healthcare Singapore hospital network. With this method, doctors can repair or replace broken heart valves through a catheter of small incisions in thelong area, without the need to open the chest cavity.

This fire provides patients with the opportunity to avoid open heart surgery, with the risk of lower complications and faster recovery. This is an innovation, especially for patients who have concerns about having major surgery, especially for patients over the age of 65 or who have other congenital diseases," said Dr. Edgar Tay, Heart Specialist at Mount Elizabeth Hospitals.

Provide education for families about safer choices

This innovation is the main focus in the Health Talk event held by Bank Central Asia (BCA) with the IHH Healthcare Singapore in the cities of Pasuruan and Malang entitled Beyond the Catheter and Rings: Conquering Heart Valve Disease Without Surgery. This event was attended by BCA Solitaire customers and Priorities with the aim of educating the Indonesian people about the latest developments in heart disease treatment.

During the session, Dr. Tay emphasized three important things for patients and families in Indonesia:

Early detection can save lives: Routine checks are essential as heart valve disease often develops asymptomatic, until it is often too late.

The choice of a minimal invasive procedure is now available: The assumption that all patients must undergo open heart surgery is no longer relevant, because ; now there are safer alternative procedures for patients.

Modern technology comes as a game-changer: Modern methods such as TAVI and TEER present new standards in care, with safety, accuracy, and better final results.

One of the patients from Indonesia, Mrs. Rusmawati, who suffers from a further Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) stage, shared her experience in undergoing treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital with Dr. Edgar Tay and the team.

Living with PAH the advanced stage made me feel exhausted, dependent on oxygen, and felt the opportunity for me to live smaller every day. But this changed when I came for treatment in December 2024, where specialists at Mount Elizabeth Hospital introduced me to Sotatercept, a new breakthrough therapy that was then only available in Singapore. Thanks to Dr. Edgar and the team, this treatment eased the burden on my heart and lungs, with a faster recovery process, and made my quality of life better, "said Mrs. Rusmawati.

Bringing heart care innovation closer to Indonesian patients

Experts at the IHH Healthcare Singapore confirmed that treatment is only one part of the patient's journey. Their mission is broaderly to provide trusted health services and personalization, so that each family can feel calm.

Every medical procedure will raise questions and concerns. But with the right knowledge and a minimal invasive choice of modern therapy, patients and families can make more confident health decisions." concluded Dr. Tay.

Through strategic collaboration with partners such as BCA, IHH Healthcare Singapore seeks to expand access to information and treatment for Indonesian patients. With sustainable education, prevention, and innovation in heart care, more families can look to the future with a longer life expectancy.