According to heart specialist and medical symposium head, Dr. Gilbert C. Vilela, the 2007 CAD review course will be unlike typical hospital review courses, which focus mainly on previous patient cases. The review will instead aim to identify what works best in the patients by reviewing the treatment options and clinical results.

As chief of the Coronary Artery Disease section of the Philippine Heart Center, internist-cardiologist Dr. Vilela has observed that many physicians have not been updated in the management of cardiovascular (like hypertension) and metabolic (like diabetes) diseases – conditions that have not been addressed accurately despite the availability of new therapeutic options.

Through this symposium, the Philippine Heart Center will focus on reviewing the ‘old’ versus the ‘new’ standards in managing Coronary Artery Disease, with emphasis on what really works.

Coronary artery disease occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle (the coronary arteries) become hardened and narrowed, reducing or obstructing much-needed blood flow and oxygen to the heart. This results in angina, heart attack, heart failure, or arrhythmias.

CAD is the most common type of heart disease. In the United States, it is the leading cause of death in both men and women. The objective is to present the latest research studies and findings that could effect change in the management of CAD by General Practioners (GPs), family doctors, and other first-line MDs, as well as specialists.

"Much of medicine is based on choosing the best treatment, and we need to ensure that the choice is supported by good scientific evidence," explained Vilela. "With the most recent contemporary mega-trials, concepts are changing about coronary artery disease (changing "what we used to know"). And since science is based on concepts, when you change the concepts which science stands on, you practically change the science of cardiology. So if a physician’s medical practice is still based on ‘what we used to know’ (which may already be outdated), his treatment choices could fail and the patient may inadvertently suffer and die (called 'outcomes')," Dr. Vilela added.

Medicine is constantly changing and advancing. That is why medical practitioners need to keep abreast with the latest clinical studies, treatments and approaches, particularly pertaining to Coronary Artery Disease management. To improve treatment outcomes, doctors must constantly be aware of new concepts about the disease and its treatment options.

"A lot has changed in science and medicine, so we must also change (update) our medical practice," Dr. Vilela stressed.

According to Vilela, the idea behind the 2007 CAD review course is to bridge the gap between science and the clinics – to push for the application of the "new emerging science" into the medical practice, so that Filipino patients would have better treatment outcomes. Thus the title: "Emerging concepts, shifting practices."

This medical information is made possible through the support of Schwarz Pharma Philippines, a subsidiary of Schwarz Pharma AG in Monheim, Germany that develops and markets innovative medicines particularly in the areas of Cardiovascular and Metabolic diseases, Gastrointestinal and Central Nervous System.

Schwarz Pharma employs around 4,400 professionals worldwide; operates state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Europe, USA and Asia; and has a strong multinational marketing presence and infrastructure with affiliates in the USA, Europe and Asia.

More information is available through Dr. Kathleen Go (0917-5490050).