About 100 heart transplant operations are performed in Iran per annum, said the secretary of the Fifth International Iranian Heart Failure Summit.

Speaking to Iran Daily in an exclusive interview, Babak Sharif-Kashani added Iran is a top regional country in heart transplantation and treating cardiovascular diseases.

He said some 75 percent of the heart transplant operations are successful, adding following the surgical operations in these cases, patients continue their life.

Sharif-Kashani noted that, “Heart transplant operations are carried out in four main centers in Tehran including Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Ayatollah Taleghani Hospital and Shariati Hospital. The operation is also performed in other provinces.”

He stressed that the operation is among the most sensitive surgeries in the world, adding Iranian surgeons are quite good at performing the surgical operation.

The cardiovascular specialist listed the main causes of heart failure as diseases caused by high blood-pressure, problems related to coronary arteries and heart valves as well as genetic factors.

He said at present, cardiovascular and valvular problems are the most common diseases in Iran that increase the risk of heart failure in people.

“Early diagnosis of these diseases and preventing their development significantly help reduce the costs of treating heart failure.”

Although there is no specific age for the occurrence of heart failure, the risk of developing the disorder increases as people age, he said.

“It can occur at any period in life from childhood to old age.”

Potential candidates for heart transplantation are patients suffering from heart failure in its advanced stages, Sharif-Kashani said, adding currently, the number of hearts donated by brain-dead organ donors in the world, is less than that of heart failure patients in need of transplantation.

“A large number of these patients die out of lack of transplantable hearts.”

Sharif-Kashani said the Fifth International Iranian Heart Failure Summit would be held in Tehran during May 5-7, 2016.

“The newest methods and techniques for improving the quality of heart failure treatment and latest achievements in this field will be presented in this congress which is to be held in cooperation of the World Heart Failure Society.”

He said experts and specialists from countries such as Turkey, Australia, Italy, Germany and France would participate in the event.

“Studying and reviewing sleep disorders and problems, which are among the main factors causing heart failure, are among the main axes of the summit. At times, heart failure is also conducive to sleep disorders.”

Commenting on the latest achievements in treating heart failure, he said a number of new medicines have been developed recently which have proved highly effective in improving the health condition of patients suffering from heart failure and reducing the mortality rate due to the disorder.

“One of these drugs is ‘Valsartan/sacubitril’ ― with brand name ‘Entresto’. It was previously known as LCZ696.”

Caption: Iran Daily’s reporter Sadeq Dehqan (R) talks to Babak Sharif-Kashani, secretary of the Fifth International Iranian Heart Failure Summit. / Iran daily /