Carlos Slim Foundation at the Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology

The 66th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology was held in the city of Washington D.C. on March 17-19, 2017. This is the most important international event in the area of cardiology, where the most important institutions in this field around the globe participate.

Carlos Slim Foundation (CSF) participated at a special session on the international context in cardiology. This session, entitled ‘Conquering Health Challenges in Emerging Countries,’ brought together experts from the USA, India, China, Brazil and Mexico, in order to address three specific themes on health systems in emerging economies:

  1. Clinical practice guidelines.
  2. Cardiovascular diseases in women.
  3. Impact of health systems management.

Carlos Slim Foundation presented the paper ‘Disruptive approach through the use of technology and transparency in the care of chronic diseases’. This paper describes a model developed by CSF for early detection of chronic diseases, called CASALUD, as well as the progresses achieved so far.

CASALUD is a comprehensive model that seeks solving the most pressing public health challenges in Mexico, through reengineering the services offered in first contact health centers. For this, the CSF’s model allows timely detecting noncommunicable chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and cancer.

Through the development of the Integrated Measurement for Timely Detection (Medición Integrada para la Detección Oportuna, MIDO®), a screening protocol has been established for five risk factors —weight, blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol and renal function— to determine the physical condition of the individuals and identify if they have or are at risk of having a noncommunicable disease. Currently the model is a reference for chronic disease care in Mexico, so it is part of the National Strategy against Diabetes and Obesity, now operating in 27 states of the republic. CASALUD follows the highest standards of transparency in the design of public policies, and has open data policy through the Mexican Observatory of Noncommunicable Diseases (Observatorio Mexicano de Enfermedades No Transmisibles, OMENT) to ensure this purpose.

The Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology is the most important in the field. This year, the event recorded more than 18 thousand attendees, 290 exhibitors, more than 13 thousand health professionals, opinion leaders from 122 countries, more than 250 representatives of the international press and 161 media outlets.