CEBU CITY – The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) Council on Heart Failure intensified its call to build a more accessible and responsive network of HF care around the country.

The call was made during the Cebu leg of the PHA Heart Failure Caravan: An Educational Tour on Thursday, April 30, at the Cebu Parklane International Hotel.

The PHA emphasized that HF cases continue to rise nationwide.

Unlike acute outbreaks, HF develops silently over time, driven by increasing cases of hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes, obesity, and smoking.

In her talk, Dr. Erlyn Demerre, PHA Council on Heart Failure chairperson, said 80 percent of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden is in lower and middle-income countries,

On a global scale, around 64 million people are living with HF, making it one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases worldwide, she said.

Data from the Philippine National Heart Failure Network showed that HF affects approximately 10.4 percent of Filipinos, a figure driven largely by uncontrolled risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and lifestyle habits, including smoking.

HF is a chronic and progressive illness in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s demands.

While early symptoms may appear mild, failure to recognize and treat them can lead to serious and life-threatening complications.

Driven by the vision of a HF-free nation, the movement highlighted the urgent need to strengthen awareness, education, and collaborative care strategies in addressing HF.

“We are working to connect communities and spark a collective effort toward improving the lives of HF patients,” Demerre emphasized. “This is about creating lasting change, ensuring that quality care becomes accessible to every Filipino who needs it.”

She underscored the importance of amplifying awareness on all levels, noting that the campaign seeks to engage policymakers, partner organizations, and government leaders in addressing long-standing gaps in HF care delivery.

Despite the growing burden of the disease, access to specialized services remains uneven. Many areas still lack hospitals equipped with HF-specific tools, as well as trained cardiologists and specialists who can manage the condition effectively.

Compounding the problem is a common tendency among Filipinos to overlook early warning signs. Symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and swelling of the legs are often dismissed as simple exhaustion or stress. This normalization delays timely diagnosis and intervention, allowing the condition to progress unnoticed.

The Cebu leg of the caravan gathered heart doctors, family medicine doctors, general practitioners, internal doctors, and nurses.

As part of the caravan, a series of lectures and discussions will be held led by leading cardiologists and HF specialists from Manila and Cebu.

Before Cebu, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Clark, Baguio, Tacloban, Bicol, and Davao hosted similar events as part of a nationwide effort to strengthen HF awareness, expand care networks, and ultimately save lives.