Johnson & Johnson Medical Collaborates with Public Welfare Organizations on Atrial Fibrillation Health Education to Advance Standardization of Cardiology Diagnosis and Treatment in China

Beijing, June 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Coinciding with the eighth "China Atrial Fibrillation Day," Johnson & Johnson Medical (Shanghai) Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Johnson & Johnson Medical") joined hands with the Beijing Bethune Public Welfare Foundation to launch a public health education campaign themed "Ablating the Gloom, Regaining a New 'Heart' Life." The initiative aims to significantly enhance public awareness—particularly among atrial fibrillation patients and high-risk populations—of this common cardiovascular disease, promote the clinical application of medical innovations, and improve the standardization of treatment. Through a variety of activities, including co-hosting large-scale forums on atrial fibrillation education, conducting a series of dialogues between authoritative experts in the national cardiovascular field and the media, and screening patient story videos, the project will establish a platform for atrial fibrillation prevention and control publicity, foster consensus within the medical community and dialogue on health policies, and help accelerate the realization of the "Healthy China 2030" strategy.

Addressing Major Public Health Challenges: The Urgent Need for Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation, abbreviated as AF, is a supraventricular tachyarrhythmia characterized by rapid and disordered atrial electrical activity. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are the leading cause of death among Chinese residents, and arrhythmias are one of the main causes of sudden cardiac death. The incidence of atrial fibrillation increases with age, reaching 12% in individuals aged 75–84 years.^[1], Currently, there are over 10 million patients with atrial fibrillation in China.^[2]。

As the aging process accelerates, the number of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in China is expected to rise rapidly. Coupled with complications such as stroke and heart failure, this trend will intensify pressure on existing healthcare resources, posing significant challenges to public health and medical service capacity. If stroke occurs due to delayed treatment, the resulting direct and indirect medical costs become even more substantial. According to estimates from the Fourth National Health Services Survey, the annual cost of treating AF-related stroke reaches as high as 4.9 billion yuan.^[3]。

In stark contrast to the high incidence and high fatality risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) is the low level of awareness among the general public and even healthcare professionals, resulting in a low rate of standardized treatment for the disease. At today’s project launch forum, Professor Ma Changsheng, Director of the Heart Center at Beijing Anzhen Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University, Director of the National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, and President-Elect of the Chinese Society of Cardiology under the Chinese Medical Association, stated, “The awareness rate of AF among patients in China is far lower than that in developed countries. More than half of the patients have never heard of AF, let alone understood its hazards, which poses significant challenges to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of the condition. The ‘Healthy China 2030’ plan proposes actions for the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases, with a particular emphasis on comprehensive prevention and integrated management of stroke. We should strive to substantially improve public awareness of the disease, continuously reinforce the concept of early diagnosis and early treatment, alleviate the disease burden, and elevate the health status of the population to a new level.”

The “Healthy China 2030” Planning Outline proposes a shift from a “disease-treatment-centered” approach to one that prioritizes “prevention first, with combined prevention and treatment,” achieving comprehensive prevention, control, and integrated management of cardiovascular diseases, particularly stroke, through front-loading interventions, early diagnosis and treatment, and timely intervention.

Professor Yao Yan, Deputy Head of the Atrial Fibrillation Quality Control Group at the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Deputy Director of the Arrhythmia Center at Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and Director of the First Arrhythmia Ward, stated at today’s forum that radiofrequency ablation is considered the first-line treatment for most symptomatic arrhythmia patients: “Thanks to innovations in medical technology, catheter-based radiofrequency ablation has gradually become a first-line technique for treating atrial fibrillation. With this approach, the success rate for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation can reach 90%.”^[4], thereby reducing the incidence and mortality of stroke. Recent studies have shown that the success rate of continuous atrial fibrillation ablation using the latest technology can also reach 80%. Compared with drug treatment, catheter ablation is a cost-effective therapeutic approach, which helps alleviate the financial burden on patients' families in the long run."

Fan Yanrong, Executive Secretary-General of the Beijing Bethune Public Welfare Foundation, stated, “The prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases in China remains a severe challenge, making it imperative to promptly enhance public awareness and correct understanding of atrial fibrillation. We look forward to joining forces with industry leaders to strengthen education on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, particularly atrial fibrillation, thereby maximizing social impact and contributing to the improvement of the overall health status of the Chinese population.””

Advancing Electrophysiology Treatment Standards, Building a Healthy Innovation Ecosystem

Johnson & Johnson Medical remains committed to advancing the technology and standardization of atrial fibrillation treatment in China. With support from national policies, Johnson & Johnson Medical continues to accelerate the introduction of innovative products and surgical solutions into the Chinese market.

Dr. Chen Xi, General Manager of Johnson & Johnson MedTech’s Cardiovascular and Specialty Solutions business in China, stated: “We believe that innovation will play a crucial role in driving the transformation and development of the healthcare industry. Therefore, Johnson & Johnson MedTech is driven by innovation to accelerate the translation of cutting-edge scientific achievements into practical applications, actively promote the adoption of new global technologies in China, and enable physicians and patients to benefit from innovative medical products and services at the earliest possible stage.”

As a significant milestone in building an innovation ecosystem, Johnson & Johnson announced the establishment of the “Johnson & Johnson Boao Innovation Chain” at the end of 2019. Leveraging the “Nine National Measures” policy, the company is committed to creating an innovative, integrated platform in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan Province. This platform integrates the display of medical research achievements, technology promotion, product application, academic exchange, and training for high-caliber talent, actively facilitating the deployment of cutting-edge technologies and more clinically urgent innovative medical products in the healthcare sector. Within the Boao Lecheng Medical Pilot Zone, Johnson & Johnson MedTech has successfully piloted the launch of several electrophysiology surgical products for cardiovascular disease treatment, nearly synchronizing their availability with the U.S. market. This initiative enables Chinese patients to access medical technologies on par with those available in the United States without leaving the country.

Moreover, Johnson & Johnson Medical is committed to cultivating electrophysiology professionals in China. In late 2019, it launched the “Five-Year Specialized Training Program on Advanced Cardiac Electrophysiology Technologies,” aiming to further improve the professional education system for cardiac electrophysiologists in China and help enhance clinicians’ ability to master cutting-edge technologies in this field.

“Johnson & Johnson Medical will continue to collaborate with all sectors of society, continuously build an open innovation ecosystem, and explore comprehensive cardiovascular health management solutions, so as to serve the growing health needs of the public, alleviate the burden on patients’ families and national healthcare systems, and contribute to building a ‘Healthy China’”’Contribute Strength。”Dr. Chen Xi added.

In recent years, Johnson & Johnson Medical has also increased its focus on public health education. Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson & Johnson Medical collaborated with the Beijing Medical Reward Foundation and six leading domestic clinical experts in atrial fibrillation to conduct multiple public awareness campaigns on atrial fibrillation-related diseases, leveraging national health media and more than ten video live-streaming platforms.

[1] Ma Changsheng. Epidemiological Advances in Atrial Fibrillation. Medicine & Philosophy. (2016), 31(561): 8-9, 26.

[2] Hu Dayi, Sun Yihong. Epidemiology and Current Status of Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation. Chinese Journal of General Practitioners. (2006), 5(1): 5-7.

[3] Zhang L, Yin CY, Hu SL. Disease burden of atrial fibrillation in China. Chinese Health Economics. (2013), 32(12): 5-7.

[4] Taghji, Philippe, et al. "Evaluation of a strategy aiming to enclose the pulmonary veins with contiguous and optimized radiofrequency lesions in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a pilot study." JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology 4.1 (2018): 99-108.