Edwards Lifesciences brought together patients from Australia, India, Indonesia, South Korea and Singapore at its annual Asia Pacific Patient Experience event to share their journeys and help advance patient-centred structural heart care.
More than 80 million people worldwide live with some form of heart valve disease, according to the American Heart Association. As Asia Pacific’s population ages rapidly, the region is expected to face a growing burden of degenerative valvular heart disease. These trends underline the importance of timely diagnosis, treatment and greater attention to patient experiences.
Different Journeys, Shared Experiences
Patients shared stories of unexpected diagnoses, fear, family support and renewed quality of life.
For Jai Arora, 47, from India, the diagnosis came as a shock. “I was in the best shape of my life,” he said. “The idea that something could be wrong with my heart, when I felt invincible, was terrifying.”
Similarly, Haehun Choi, 72, from South Korea, discovered his condition during a routine check-up despite having no symptoms. Qi Le Ee, 17, from Singapore, initially believed a persistent fever was dengue, while Hermani from Indonesia highlighted the crucial support of his family. Meanwhile, Geoff Lewis, 75, from Australia, described how treatment helped him regain an active life and spend more time with his family.
Turning Insights into Action
As per the press release issued by Edwards Lifesciences, the stories offered valuable insights into the realities of living with structural heart disease and highlighted opportunities to better support patients throughout their care journey.
“At Edwards, innovation begins with understanding the people we serve,” said Amit Raheja, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific, Edwards Lifesciences. “Their experiences remind us that behind every innovation is a person, a family and a journey.”
The event also included a tour of Edwards’ Singapore facility and demonstrations of structural heart technologies. By bringing together patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and employees, Edwards aims to strengthen awareness and ensure that patient voices continue to shape the future of structural heart care across Asia Pacific.