Russian, US Physicians Join Efforts Fighting Heart Diseases

Yesterday, in St. Petersburg, at the Pokrov hospital, the 3rd International Symposium of Cardiologists began. According to the press centre of the Healthcare Committee of the administration of the city, its participants include leading cardiologists from the US Mayo clinic, the Israeli Cardio-disease Centre of the Sheba institute, the Research Cardiology Institute of the Health Ministry of Russia, the Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, and the Pokrov hospital.

Since the symposium began, the group of participating American cardiologists has operated on three patients suffering from life-threatening cardio-arrhythmia. The US colleagues have donated to Russian physicians a set of equipment sufficient for several dozens such operations.

According to medical statistics, cardio-vascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the world. In Russia mortality rate among heart patients is as high as 55%, in St. Petersburg - 59%. Life-threatening cardio-arrhythmia cases account for over 25% of all cardio-ambulance calls. The victims of this disease are usually strong young people. Cardio-arrhythmia is often crippling or life-threatening.