Beijing, June 23, 2010: With the objective to increase awareness about the alarming rise of cardiovascular (CV) deaths in Asia Pacific and globally, cardiology experts from across the world gathered at World Congress of Cardiology held in Beijing, China from June 16-19, 2010.

In a round table discussion organized by Bayer Schering Pharma, experts shared that the number of CV deaths is projected to rise from 17.5 million in 2005 to 20 million by 2015. Hence it becomes necessary for individuals to keep informed about the factors that control their risk of developing CV diseases such as low dose aspirin that can be critical for reducing the risk of a heart disease or ischemic stroke in appropriate at risk patients.

Although aspirin was originally recognized for its pain relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, research in recent decades has shown that low-dose aspirin can be preventive in certain CV events. Low dose aspirin is currently approved in more than 50 countries for the prevention of a first CV event. In Asia Pacific, Aspirin Cardio is available in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.

By 2020, heart diseases and stroke will become the leading cause of both death and disability worldwide, however, by making simple lifestyle changes, such as increased physical activity and maintaining a healthy diet, individuals can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Aspirin is one of the most extensively studied drugs in history, with a well established efficacy and safety profile for preventing heart attack and stroke, said Prof Thomas A Pearson, University of Rochester School of Medicine.

He further said that aspirin prevents CV events through inhibition of platelet aggregation. As a result, it helps prevent the precipitating event i.e. a blood clot, in schemic heart attacks and strokes, and should be an integral part of a comprehensive approach to managing CV risk in appropriate patients.

Talking about the potential of aspirin for other diseases, Prof Pearson remarked that besides preventing CV events, it also prevents relative risk of any colorectal cancer, Alzheimer disease and also reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia and pre-natal death.

Prof Shahryar A Sheikh, Immediate Past president, World Heart Federation, said that primary prevention theory, along with reduction of risk factors such as smoking, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity plays a critical role in reducing the global CVD burden.

He shared, “China is the world’s largest smoking nation and it consumes one third of the world’s cigarette as 60 percent of the men in china are smokers. Our objective is to let the people understand the gravity of the issue and educate the public about factors and therapies that can reduce the risk of CVD and ultimately reduce the global CVD burden.”

Prof Li Xiao Ying from Military Hospital of Beijing put his remarks on the existing body of primary prevention evidence for Aspirin. The effectiveness of low dose aspirin in the prevention of a first CV disease event is supported by six prospective, randomized clinical trials conducted by independent researchers as well as collective meta analysis of the trials. The studies include British doctors’ trials, physician’s health study, primary prevention project, hypertension optimal treatment trial, thrombosis prevention trial ans women’s health study.

In these trials, nearly 100,000 patients (47,293 on aspirin and 45,618 on placebo or control) were studied. Robust and consistent findings across all these studies demonstrated that aspirin significantly reduces the risk of a heart attack across the CV diseases risks.

Aspirin is an economical and potentially more cost effective therapy than other available prescription treatments for helping prevent a CV event.

Bayer currently supports several clinical studies which will add to the scientific body of knowledge around low dose aspirin as a cornerstone for preventing CV events. The company also looks to advance initiatives that bring the benefits of aspirin to additional appropriate patients, helping reduce the global burden of CVD. Through a shared commitment with World Heart Federation, it is working to establish common standards for preventing CV diseases, with the goal of making a longer and better life possible.

However, Bayer supports the use of aspirin for primary prevention only in those countries where the indication has been approved and only a physician can determine whether a patient is at sufficient risk of CV event to warrant daily aspirin therapy.

Bayer has been supporting the World Congress of Cardiology which is conducted every two years by the World Heart Federation. The Congress attracts thousands of cardiologists and other healthcare professionals from all over the world.