News
Socru networks with ProCOR
Socru has linked up with ProCOR, the ongoing email and Web-based electronic forum aimed at addressing the epidemic of cardiovascular diseases in the developing world.
Pictured: Back, left to right: Joaquin Barnoya, Guatemala; Catherine Coleman, USA; Karen Sliwa, South Africa; Roya Kelishadi, Iran; Nizal Saraf-Zadagen, Iran; Vinesh Vaghela, Kenya; Valdarez Robinson, Brazil; Aloyzio Achutti, Brazil. Front, left to right: Vikas Saini, US; Jose Barnoya, Guatemala; Kemi Tibazarwa, Tanzania.
Heart of Soweto moves to primary health care
The Socru team regularly gives lectures in the Mandela-Sisulu Clinic and Pimville Clinic informing the patients and nurses about hypertension, heart failure and healthy lifestyle choices. [Read more]
Prestigious Lecture series at Wits: Cardiovascular disease in Africans and importance of lifestyle
Prof. Karen Sliwa and Prof. Tony Mbewu lecture at Wts
Prof Karen Sliwa, MD, PhD, FESC, FACC, DTM&H
Soweto Cardiovascular Research Unit, Department of Cardiology, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, www.socru.org
Although cardiovascular disease and its major component, heart disease, exists in epidemic proportions in Western developed countries, it is also an increasing problem in Africa, contributing to significant morbidity and premature mortality in vulnerable populations. The overall burden of cardiovascular disease is predicted to rise by approximately 150% in the developing world within the next 20 years. In Africa alone, it is predicted that it will affect 1.3 million people per annum during this period. Even in low- to middle-income countries such as South Africa it is already responsible for close to 10% of healthy life years lost; being second only to HIV/AIDS in this regard.
Such data support the hypothesis that the overall health status of human societies is linked to economic development, and that globalisation could have a negative impact due to “Westernisation of lifestyle”. With industrialisation, the major causes of death have shifted from infectious diseases and nutritional deficiencies to more chronic disorders: a phenomenon with distinct stages known as “epidemiologic transition”. For example, there are strong indications that in South Africa this phenomenon is occurring even within a specific disease category of cardiovascular disease: rheumatic heart disease of the young. Although it is still prevalent, there is some evidence that it is giving way to hypertension, coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndromes including acute myocardial infarction (MI). All are common precursors of chronic heart failure. [Read more]
Publication in The Lancet
Socru is proud to announce the publication of a landmark report from Africa’s largest study of cardiovascular disease, the Heart of Soweto Study, in the internationally renowned journal The Lancet on 15th March 2008. [Read more]
The team has been involved in about 20 radio interviews and news of the study’s publication has been covered extensively by the media. [Download]
On the beat in Dobsonville
The Heart of Soweto research team held a Heart Awareness Day at the Dobsonville Shopping Centre in Soweto on 9 November 2007.
There was a good turnout of people. By 2pm the team had attended to more than 160 patients. They were screened for high blood pressure, glucose, body mass index, cholesterol and microalbuminuria. [Read more]
European Society of Cardiology meeting in Vienna
At the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Vienna, in September 2007, the SOCRU team had seven abstracts accepted! Dr Olaf Forster presented two oral presentations, one of which was repeated in the 'Hotline' session highlighting the most important findings of the meeting.
Left: Dr Olaf Forster (right) with a delegate.
Right: Dr Haroon Abbasi with his poster.
View Dr Anthony Becker's poster.
Socru featured in The Star
Johannesburg newspaper, The Star, recently ran a full-page spread on heart failure, the condition of peripartum cardiomyopathy and the Heart of Soweto study. Click here to see the article.
Website sponsors
The development and maintenance of the Soweto Cardiovascular Research Unit website is kindly sponsored by Bayer (Pty) Ltd. [Read more about Bayer here.]
Institute upgraded
The Medtronic Cardiovascular Institute for Research and Education has been upgraded with funds from the Medtronic Foundation.
Heart of Soweto study team members Puthuma Methusi, Elisabeth Tshele, Louis Kuneka, Bridget Phooko and Maureen Kubekha are enjoying the upgraded Institute facilities.
Socru featured in The Star
Johannesburg newspaper, The Star, recently ran a full-page spread on heart failure, the condition of peripartum cardiomyopathy and the Heart of Soweto study. Click here to see the article.
Focusing on the hearts of Soweto
From October this year, the Soweto Cardiovascular Research Unit (Socru) and the Chris Hani Baragwanath Cardiac Unit will implement a pilot nurses training programme that will help change the way cardiac illnesses are being managed in the Soweto community. [Read more.]
Prof Karen Sliwa with patients at Socru
Dr Craig Hansen visits from Australia
The South African team welcomed fellow Heart of Soweto researcher Dr Craig Hansen from the University of Queensland when he visited earlier this year.
The Heart of Soweto researchers have almost completed their analysis of the 2143 new cases and the 2770 follow up cases that were seen at the Baragwanath cardiac clinic in 2006!
SA Heart Association meets in Cape Town
A number of Socru research team members attended the South African Heart Association Congress 2006, which was held in Cape Town from 29 October to 1 November 2006. Dr Abbasi, Dr Becker and Dr Forster presented posters at the congress.
Socru evaluated by Faculty Research Committee
Prof Ramsay and Prof Chandiwana of the Faculty Research Committee recently visited Socru to evaluate the unit.
This follows a recent visit from Wits Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Prof Belinda Bozzoli. Socru is already listed as an asset and leader in research in Wits publicity materials (see below).
Heart of Soweto study launches
The Soweto Cardiovascular Research Unit (Socru) officially launched the Heart of Soweto/Unite for Health Initiative, at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto on September 8 2006.
Guests heard speeches from project leader Prof Karen Sliwa, researcher Prof Simon Stewart, and Adcock Ingram Managing Director Dr Jonathan Louw, who all spoke of the critical need for understanding and treating heart disease in Africa.
World Congress hears from Socru
Sept 2006 – Socru Director Prof Karen Sliwa, and researcher Dr Olaf Forster presented four posters and a talk at the World Congress of Cardiology in Barcelona in early September.
Forster presented on his research involving the interaction between HIV-induced immunodeficiency and peripartum cardiomyopathy and won a scholarship grant for his poster presentation entitled “Treatment of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy of HIV-Infected Patients in a Low Resource Setting.”
Sliwa gave an oral presentation on cardiomyopathy in Africa, examining how common forms of heart disease are affecting various regions in Africa.
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