Figures presented at the 20th National Congress of Cardiology 2026, held from Oct. 2-4, highlighted the growing burden of cardiovascular disease in Vietnam. It remains the leading cause of death both globally and in the country.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases caused an estimated 19.8 million deaths worldwide in 2022, representing about 32% of all global deaths. Around 85% of cardiovascular deaths were due to heart attacks and strokes.

"Hypertension, lipid disorders, diabetes, smoking, overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and population aging are all contributing to the growing risk of cardiovascular disease," said Ha Anh Duc, director of the Medical Services Administration under Vietnam's Ministry of Health.

In Vietnam, cardiovascular diseases cause about 200,000 deaths annually, accounting for roughly one-third of all deaths and exceeding the number of deaths from cancer.

Nearly 17 million Vietnamese aged 30-79 have hypertension

According to WHO estimates, around 16.9 million people aged 30-79 in Vietnam had hypertension in 2025.

However, only about 51% had been diagnosed, 32% were receiving treatment and approximately 15% had their blood pressure under control.

The wide gap between the number of people with hypertension and those successfully controlling it shows that the challenge extends beyond treatment capacity to early detection, access to healthcare and adherence to long-term treatment.

Pham Manh Hung, president of the Vietnam National Heart Association for the 2026-2028 term, said the earlier emergence of risk factors is contributing to a shift in the age profile of cardiovascular disease.

Cases of younger people being hospitalized and requiring cardiovascular interventions are no longer uncommon.

This trend requires a change in approach, Hung said.

"The fight against cardiovascular disease cannot take place only at major referral hospitals," he stressed.

Experts say cardiovascular disease prevention should begin in communities rather than focusing solely on treatment after diseases have progressed and patients require specialized care.

Preventive measures include controlling blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels; maintaining a healthy weight; increasing physical activity; quitting smoking; improving diets; and proactively screening people at elevated risk.

Vietnam targets 50% hypertension control rate by 2030

The Vietnam National Heart Association aims to raise the hypertension control rate among people aged 30-79 to at least 50% by 2030.

"This is a highly challenging target," Duc said, adding that achieving it would require substantive improvements in the detection, treatment and community-based management of hypertension.

Hung said hypertension management must begin with the basics: people knowing their blood pressure readings, receiving early diagnoses, obtaining appropriate treatment, adhering to that treatment and maintaining long-term control.

Effective blood pressure management can have substantial health benefits. A 5 mmHg reduction in blood pressure can lower the risk of stroke by 13%, heart failure by 13%, ischemic heart disease by 8% and cardiovascular death by 5%.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death globally and in Vietnam. However, recent decades have brought significant improvements in the expertise of Vietnamese cardiovascular specialists and the quality of patient care.

Many advanced medical techniques that were previously available only abroad have now been mastered by Vietnamese doctors and are routinely performed in the country.

Vo Thu