RIYADH — The Saudi Heart Association (SHA) will hold its 29th annual conference on March 1-3, 2018 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Riyadh in conjunction with the Association’s 4th Saudi Arabian Cardiac Intervention Society (SACIS) Forum. SHA has chosen value-based cardiovascular care as its theme for SHA29. This theme will be reflected in the scientific program, as well as in the plenary sessions, and top experts in value-based health care will speak about its application in cardiovascular care. Holding the forum alongside the SHA29 conference enhances the scientific content of the conference and provides synergy to this scientific event – the largest gathering of this sort in the Gulf and the Middle East with the participation of more than 5,500 researchers and medical practitioners. This year’s conference is different in two major aspects — it is concurrent with the hosting of the 4th SACIS forum, and the conference theme of value-based cardiovascular healthcare that will showcase the latest in the field of research and medical sciences, particularly the expanding application of nano-medicine in coronary artery disease. Dr. Hussam Al Faleh, President of SHA, said as with every year, “we promise to provide a rich and exciting scientific program that combines the newest updates in cardiovascular care, and highlights cutting edge technology employed in the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular diseases, along with highlights from local and regional scientific research.” He further said: “We have increased the number of joint scientific sessions between various SHA affiliated societies and working groups and international societies and entities such as the ESC, ACC, the Houston Methodist, the Cleveland clinic, the Gulf heart association, ASNC, and EACVI. Overall, SHA29 will organize more than 55 scientific sessions in 17 tracks. In addition to the exchange of knowledge, the SHA conference provides a great forum for networking between cardiovascular healthcare professionals.” Moreover, Dr. Al Faleh said SHA aspires to be the first national reference for all matters related to the heart health care of people in Saudi Arabia, and be pioneer in the Middle East and be a platform for all health initiatives in the region. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing major changes in the way health care is practiced. It is imperative to change the current health care system in order to accommodate our current and future health needs, especially in chronic non-communicable disease. The national transformation program in its second version -NTP 2.0- and Vision 2030 has drawn a road map towards this new healthcare system. Among the core strategic objectives of the NTP 2.0 in health, is building a health care system that is value-based, and in the spirit of transformation and in recognizing our vital role as a professional society to support the transformation efforts in Saudi Arabia,” SHA president remarked. Dr. Khalid Al-Habib, professor of cardiology, head of scientific committee in National Heart Center, Saudi Health Council, said latest available data revealed that by 2035, the number of cases will more than double, with CeVD (cerebrovascular disease or stroke) posting 254% increase in costs to $1.1 billion, and IHD (Ischemic Heart Disease or heart attack registering a 279% in costs to $5.9 billion. During the conference, a new medicine recently approved by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) for the treatment of hyperlipidemia will be unveiled. Evolocumab, a monoclonal antibody that prevents heart attack and stroke, is manufactured by Amgen Inc., an American multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California. — SG