First AstraZeneca Cardiometabolic-Renal (CaReMe) Summit Successfully Concludes, Advancing Integrated Management of Diabetes, Cardiovascular, and Kidney Diseases

-- Multi-party collaboration to jointly promote the integrated prevention and control of "sugar, heart, and kidney" three major chronic diseases

ShanghaiApril 22, 2023PR Newswire -- April 22-23, 2023, the "Innovation Fusion, Leading the Future" First AstraZeneca Diabetes, Cardiovascular and Kidney Summit Forum was grandly held in Shanghai, aiming to create an interdisciplinary academic exchange platform for diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases, with comprehensive disease management building a full defense line for the management of the three major chronic diseases: "Diabetes, Cardiovascular and Kidney". Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, President of Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and Director of the National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Ning Guang; Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chief of Cardiology at Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, and Chairman of the Cardiovascular Health Alliance, Ge Junbo; and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Director of Nephrology at Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Hou Fanfan, along with nearly a thousand experts from the fields of endocrinology, cardiology, and nephrology, jointly attended the conference. They shared the latest research progress in these three disease areas, discussed a patient-centered integrated management model for the three major chronic diseases, and collectively promoted the joint prevention and control of "Diabetes, Cardiovascular and Kidney", assisting in the advancement of chronic disease health management and prevention as part of the "Healthy China Initiative".

The First AstraZeneca Cardio-Renal-Metabolic Forum Held in Shanghai

"Sweet Heart and Kidney" Three Major Chronic Diseases Are Interconnected, Becoming Key Points of Healthy China Initiative

China has a large patient base for the three major chronic diseases: diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. Data shows that China has over 130 million diabetes patients, 330 million cardiovascular disease patients, and approximately 82 million chronic kidney disease patients.^1,2,3The "inextricable link" between the three major chronic diseases—diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease—has significantly reduced patients' life expectancy and quality of life, while also greatly increasing medical expenses and social burdens. The health damage and social burden caused by these conditions is not "1+1+1=3," but rather "greater than 3," posing a serious public health issue that threatens the health of Chinese residents and impacts the nation's economic and social development. The "State Council's Opinions on Implementing the Healthy China Initiative" pointed out that chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease account for more than 70% of the total disease burden.⁴。

Notably, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease are often interconnected. Patients not only face the health threats of a single condition but also the risks of comorbidities and the concurrent occurrence of the other two diseases in end-stage cases. For instance, individuals with diabetes are highly susceptible to developing cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease; risk factors such as hypertension and hyperglycemia can also lead to renal impairment; and patients with kidney disease have a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease.⁵Data shows that at least one in three chronic kidney disease patients also suffers from cardiovascular disease.⁶; At least one in three heart failure patients has chronic kidney disease.⁷, One in three heart failure patients also has type 2 diabetes.⁶; At least one in three patients with type 2 diabetes has cardiovascular disease⁸。

Recently, the "Key Work Points of Healthy China Action 2023" clearly listed "Strengthening the health management of patients with chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, promoting the integration of medical prevention, and improving service quality" as one of the key tasks to be promoted. Efforts will focus on enhancing the scientific prevention and long-term standardized management of chronic diseases, aiming to achieve comprehensive and full-cycle health protection for the people.

Patient-Centered, Full-Course Management Promotes "Sugar-Heart-Kidney" Joint Prevention and Control

Based on the interconnection of the three major chronic diseases—"sugar, heart, and kidney"—patients should be regarded as a whole for the joint prevention and control of "sugar, heart, and kidney": that is, patient-centered, with the outcome focused on the cardiovascular and renal benefits of patients. Establish an overall treatment concept centered on the integrated management of cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic health. Through full-course disease management and innovative approaches, it aims to shift the focus of these three major chronic diseases, which widely affect the Chinese population, to earlier stages, lower the center of gravity, slow down disease progression, and improve patients' health outcomes.

In guidelines and expert consensuses such as the "2019 ESC/EASD Guidelines on Diabetes, Prediabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease," the "Chinese Guideline for the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes (2020 Edition)," and the "ADA Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes (2022 Edition)," it is also indicated that multiple risk factors should be comprehensively managed in the long-term management of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. Doctors should develop individualized comprehensive management plans for patients; patients need to monitor their blood glucose, blood pressure, blood lipids, urine protein, and other levels, and prevent and manage risk factors through early screening, thereby reducing the incidence of comorbidities.

In line with this concept, experts and scholars shared and discussed the clinical research progress and practice of the three major chronic diseases, integrated management, and the hierarchical diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases during the forum, aiming to achieve the goal of cardiovascular and renal benefits for patients.

Academician Ning Guang Speaks at the First Sugar Heart Kidney High-End Forum

Academician Ning Guang stated: "Diabetes affects all tissues and organs throughout the body, and cardiorenal complications are the main causes of death and disability in diabetic patients. Therefore, patients need a one-stop disease management service covering the entire course of the disease from early screening, diagnosis, and treatment to follow-up and rehabilitation. This not only prevents patients from having to visit multiple departments but also allows for preemptive management of complications before they occur, helping patients reduce the incidence of cardiorenal complications, and improving prognosis and quality of life."

Academician Ge Junbo Speaks at the First Sugar Heart Kidney High-End Forum

Academician Ge Junbo stated: "The situation for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in China is severe, with hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia all being risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, we should actively build interdisciplinary exchange platforms, advocate the joint management of 'three highs' alongside cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and other multi-disciplinary collaborative actions to comprehensively manage patients' blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids, and intervene early in multiple risk factors."

Academician Hou Fanfan Speaks at the First Sugar Heart Kidney High-end Forum

Academician Hou Fanfan stated: "Chronic kidney disease is insidious in onset, and many patients are already in end-stage renal disease when diagnosed, leaving them reliant on dialysis to sustain life. Diabetic nephropathy has now become the leading cause of end-stage renal disease."⁹"If patients can jointly prevent and control risk factors in the early stages of the disease, they can delay disease progression, reduce the incidence of comorbidities, and subsequently decrease the disease burden on families and society."

Joint Efforts, Build"Cardio-Renal-Metabolic" Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Chronic Disease Full-Course Management Ecosystem

"Integrated Prevention and Control" of the Three Major Chronic Diseases—"Sugar, Heart, and Kidney"—Necessitates Multidisciplinary Collaboration. Although patients will visit various specialties for treatment, doctors from each specialty must inform patients about potential systemic damage caused by their conditions. With the goal of comprehensive health outcomes for patients, multidisciplinary collaboration involving endocrinology, cardiology, and nephrology should be initiated to improve co-morbid outcomes of sugar-heart-kidney diseases. Individualized, full-course management plans should be developed for patients, and when selecting medications, factors such as efficacy, organ protection, safety, and compliance should be considered comprehensively. Treatment regimens should be simplified, and drug interactions avoided.

At the same time, the perfection and innovative model development and implementation of whole-course disease management also require the collaboration of multiple forces. The government, industry, academia, research, and medical sectors can work together to create a "Sugar-Heart-Kidney" chronic disease joint prevention and control ecosystem, promoting the long-term development of China's cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic treatment fields.

Dongmei Guan, Vice President of AstraZeneca China and Head of the Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases Business Unit, Delivers a Speech

Dongmei Guan, Vice President of AstraZeneca China and Head of the Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism Business Unit, stated: "Cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases have always been key therapeutic areas for AstraZeneca. Over the years, we have followed the science to better understand the underlying connections between the heart, kidneys, and pancreas, while committing ourselves to the research and development of innovative drugs to effectively protect organs, slow disease progression, reduce risks, address complications, and improve patient outcomes. After 30 years of development in China, we have gained deep insights into the needs of Chinese patients with cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases, introducing multiple innovative drugs. However, we recognize that achieving comprehensive chronic disease management requires not only innovative treatment options but also new management models. We actively collaborate with partners across various fields, focusing on common risk factors among these distinct yet interconnected disease areas. With patients at the center, we promote interdisciplinary academic exchanges and innovate solutions for the full-course management of chronic diseases, better addressing unmet health needs and contributing to the realization of the overall goals of 'Healthy China 2030.'"

About AstraZeneca's Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Therapy Areas

Cardiovascular, Renal, and Metabolic Diseases Have Always Been a Key Therapeutic Area and Growth Engine for AstraZeneca, Both Globally and in China. By Following the Science to Better Understand the Underlying Connections Between the Heart, Kidneys, and Pancreas, AstraZeneca is Actively Committed to the Research and Development of Innovative Medicines That Effectively Protect Organs, Slow Disease Progression, Reduce Risks, and Address Complications, Aiming to Alter or Delay the Natural Course of Cardiovascular, Renal, and Metabolic Diseases. This Could Potentially Restore Organ Function and Fundamentally Improve Outcomes for Millions of Patients Worldwide, Bringing a Healthier Future Through Transformative Science.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a science-led global biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of prescription medicines. Key areas of focus include oncology, biopharmaceuticals encompassing cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases, respiratory and immunology, vaccines and infectious diseases, as well as rare diseases. AstraZeneca's global headquarters is located in Cambridge, UK, with operations in over 100 countries worldwide, providing innovative medicines to millions of patients globally. For more information, please visitwww.astrazeneca.com。

*Disclaimer: For media reference only, not for any promotional purposes.

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