King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital has reached a historic milestone, becoming the first hospital in Thailand to receive the prestigious American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines for Heart Failure (AHA GWTG HF) Gold Award. This accolade recognises the hospital’s unwavering commitment to providing world-class cardiac care, particularly for patients with heart failure, by adhering to rigorous international standards. The award not only reflects the hospital's dedication to elevating patient care but also establishes a new benchmark for excellence in cardiovascular health across the nation.
Assistant Professor Dr. Yuwaree Pichitchok, Deputy Director, CEO, and Human Resources, noted that King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital has been honoured with the AHA GWTG HF Gold Award for delivering exceptional care to heart disease patients, especially those suffering from heart failure. This achievement signifies a substantial enhancement in the quality of patient care in alignment with international standards.
The hospital currently follows a comprehensive policy aimed at improving patient care quality across all medical disciplines, not solely cardiology. Emphasising the implementation of the safest and most effective treatment plans at every stage, the hospital strives to minimise patient risks. Key actions include developing a system to ensure the highest standards of care and efficiency, encompassing everything from medication to diagnostic tools, thereby providing patients with the best possible care.
"This award reflects our commitment over the past two years to improve the standard of care for heart disease patients, particularly those with heart failure. Our recognition and international acclaim have contributed to the achievement of the Gold Award. These accomplishments attest to the high-quality patient care we provide and serve as a source of pride for the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Cardiac Centre. Furthermore, they are a testament to the effective collaboration across departments that sustains and continually enhances these standards," Dr. Pichitchok added.
Associate Professor Dr. Sarinya Puwanant, Head of the Section of Heart Failure and Cardiology Transplant, explained that King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital has participated in the American Heart Association's hospital-based quality improvement programme, known as “Get With The Guidelines for Heart Failure.” This initiative aims to elevate the quality of patient care to meet evidence-based standards for heart failure patients. To earn the Gold Award, the hospital had to meet various certification criteria consistently over a two-year period, commencing in January 2022, without any lapses in patient care standards for 730 consecutive days.
International research has demonstrated that patients treated according to the programme's criteria have a better chance of living longer, enjoying an improved quality of life, increasing their capacity for exercise, and experiencing significant reductions in hospital readmission rates. Some patients who previously suffered from extreme tiredness, pulmonary oedema, and frequent hospital visits showed marked improvement in their symptoms after receiving treatment in accordance with the guidelines, thereby preventing the need for future hospitalisations.
In critical cases, patients were referred by cardiologists from other hospitals for heart transplantation at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. With treatments that meet the standard of care, many patients' conditions improved to the extent that heart transplant surgery was no longer required. The AHA GWTG HF Gold Award was achieved with support from both public and private sectors, including contributions from Novartis (Thailand) Co., Ltd., which played a significant role in this success.
Associate Professor Dr. Suphot Srimahachota, from the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, clarified that heart failure is often misunderstood as sudden cardiac arrest or a heart attack. In reality, heart failure occurs when the heart's function, akin to a water or blood pump, becomes less efficient. Consequently, the heart pumps less blood, leading to reduced circulation throughout the body.
When the heart's pumping function fails, fluid begins to accumulate in various areas. This buildup can result in pulmonary oedema, causing patients to feel fatigued, experience difficulty breathing, and prefer sitting up rather than lying flat. Fluid can also accumulate in the legs, leading to swelling, or in the abdomen, causing bloating. Heart failure can affect patients with any type of heart disease, meaning individuals with various heart conditions are at risk. Common causes of heart failure include coronary artery disease, valvular heart diseases, arrhythmias, and high blood pressure.
Heart failure represents a significant global public health issue, with over 64 million patients affected worldwide. Although precise statistics for Thailand are not yet available, it is estimated that around four million Thais suffer from heart failure. This condition is considered more alarming than some cancers due to its high mortality rate.
Heart failure has a one-year mortality rate of approximately 20–30 per cent and a five-year mortality rate exceeding 50 per cent, meaning about half of those diagnosed will die within five years. Standard treatment for heart failure involves addressing the underlying cardiac issues that impair the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. For instance, guideline-directed medical therapy or the implantation of a pacemaker device are standard treatments. If these are ineffective, further options include cardiac pacemaker implantation or heart transplantation.
Associate Professor Dr. Somchai Prechawat, Chief of the Cardiac Centre at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, stated that the Cardiac Centre provides comprehensive care for patients with cardiovascular diseases. This includes medication, pacemaker implantation, radiofrequency ablation, cardiac catheterisation, non-surgical coronary angioplasty, catheter-based heart valve replacement, a range of heart surgeries from general to complex, implantation of artificial heart pumps, and heart transplantation.
Alongside a team of experienced medical professionals, the Cardiac Centre employs innovative technology for diagnosing and treating heart conditions to international standards. We are committed to continually advancing the quality of care, aiming to offer innovative treatments for Thai patients and establishing ourselves as a trusted centre for heart disease care throughout Thailand.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Chanchai Sittipunt, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Hospital Director at Chulalongkorn University, the hospital provides comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for patients with cardiovascular disease. He expressed profound honour that the hospital has received the 2024 AHA GWTG HF Gold Award for establishing a high standard of care for heart failure patients. This recognition serves not only as a source of immense pride but also marks the hospital as the first in Thailand to attain such a prestigious international certification, representing a significant milestone for the country.
King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital is equipped with specialists in cardiovascular diseases, cutting-edge technology, and advanced medical equipment. Accordingly, the hospital offers thorough diagnostic and treatment services for heart disease patients, supported by a team of expert cardiologists and highly experienced multidisciplinary medical staff. The hospital remains focused on delivering care for particularly complex heart conditions, with the aim of serving individuals across all levels and ultimately becoming a trusted pillar of healthcare for patients.