Cardiovascular diseases, together with the control of its various risk factors, is a global challenge with consequent morbidity, mortality and economic loss. It is currently a major goal of public health to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases globally and the remarkable heterogeneity in ethnicity, disease epidemiology, socioeconomic status and access to technology within Asia and between Asia and the Western countries poses additional barrier to the achievement of this important goal.

The Asian Preventive Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation Conference is a biennial regional scientific conference organized by the Hong Kong College of Cardiology. Our mission is to contribute to high-quality professional education in the field of preventive cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation and lead to an improvement in the management of patients with cardiovascular diseases in Asia. This year is the 30^th Anniversary of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology and we are going to organize the 9^th Asian Preventive Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation Conference (APCCRC) on 26-27 November 2022 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. We are proud to see that the conference has become a well-known professional platform for colleagues working or interested in the field of preventive cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation from Hong Kong and other parts of Asia to learn and to share research findings, experience and views. The 9th APCCRC will be organized in a hybrid format with both physical and virtual participation.

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented global health crisis and cardiovascular health is jeopardized. Therefore, the theme of the forthcoming APCCRC is “Long COVID in Cardiovascular Disease Management and Cardiac Rehabilitation”. A group of dedicated experts will be gathered to present a top-notched and comprehensive programme which will cover a wide spectrum of topics, latest advancement and controversies in the field of cardiovascular prevention and cardiac rehabilitation. Furthermore, we will co-organize joint sessions with Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine, International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, Japanese Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Singapore Heart Foundation for sharing of experience. On the other hand, the well-received workshops for allied healthcare professionals will be organized again this time. Empowerment of patients, their relatives and the general public is the essence of preventive cardiology. Dedicated public education sessions will be held at the same time for them.

May we welcome you all to join us in this highly educational biennial conference and collaborate in the global action in reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases!

 

Dr. Ngai-Yin CHAN Co-Chairman, Executive Committee 9th Asian Preventive Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation Conference Immediate Past President, Hong Kong College of Cardiology	Prof. Leonard Sheung-Wai LI Co-Chairman, Executive Committee 9th Asian Preventive Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation Conference