Editor’s Note: Dr. Dipti Itchhaporia is the Eric & Sheila Samson Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Health and director of disease management at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. She is a clinical professor at the University of California, Irvine and was a board member of the World Heart Federation. In 2022, she served as the 70th president – and only the fifth woman – of the American College of Cardiology, an organization with over 56,000 members. Dr. Itchhaporia has been in the OC for more than 20 years and is married to Dr. Abhay Parikh, a gastroenterologist who also practices in Newport Beach.
As a cardiology fellow at Stanford, I vividly remember the standing-room-only Saturday morning conferences, where arriving even five minutes late meant squeezing into a packed room. These sessions were electrifying, filled with discussions about groundbreaking ideas like percutaneous valve replacement—concepts that were visionary at the time but are transformative realities today.
Over the past few decades, cardiology has undergone a remarkable transformation. When I began my career more than 20 years ago, our ability to treat heart disease was constrained by the tools and therapies available. I recall a patient deemed too frail for open-heart surgery to replace a heart valve. Today, we could have offered him a catheter-based valve replacement—minimally invasive, completed in hours and with a much shorter recovery time.
Advancements in medical technology and pharmacology have revolutionized the way we manage heart disease. From life-saving innovations like catheter-based techniques using drug eluting stents (using the wrist rather than the groin) during a heart attack to restore blood flow to a blocked artery in minutes to minimally invasive valve replacements to groundbreaking medications for heart failure, amyloidosis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the field has continually redefined what is possible and dramatically changed outcomes for patients.
Yet, despite these incredible innovations, heart disease remains the leading cause of death globally – responsible for 20.5 million death per year. In the U.S., heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women, accounting for one in five deaths. In fact, one person dies every 33 seconds from cardiovascular disease.
Even more concerning, a tsunami of cardiovascular disease is on the horizon.
Our world is facing continued growth of risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes, driven by poor diet and lack of exercise, which, if left unchecked, will overwhelm healthcare systems and result in unnecessary suffering and loss of life.
The Transformation of Healthcare and Cardiology
As a physician, I am driven by a deep passion for cardiology, not just because we save lives, but because the field is at the forefront of some of the most exciting and impactful developments in medicine. Cardiovascular disease touches people from all walks of life, and our ability to respond to it is a testament to how far we’ve come as a medical community.
When I began my career, we spent long hours writing prescriptions by hand and navigating cumbersome systems that slowed down patient care. Today, technology allows us to prescribe medications, analyze data and make decisions with the click of a button. Remote patient monitoring allows continuous tracking of a patient’s health, enabling early interventions, personalized care and greater convenience without the need for frequent in-person visits. Devices like heart monitoring systems can now alert us in real-time if a patient’s heart rhythm becomes erratic, allowing for immediate intervention.
However, while technology has revolutionized certain aspects of healthcare, other areas remain outdated. For example, the traditional waiting room experience has not changed significantly in 100 years. But technology is now at our disposal to streamline this process, improving the overall patient experience and making healthcare more efficient.
As part of my commitment to advancing cardiology, I am actively involved in digital health innovations and consult for medical technology companies, advising them on how to align cutting-edge tools with clinical insights.
Through this collaboration, I aim to ensure that clinicians remain at the forefront of healthcare innovation, helping to guide the development of products and solutions that not only bridge the gap between engineering and clinical application while focusing on delivering true patient benefit. True transformation occurs when innovation and clinical expertise converge; technology is not just a tool but a partner in shaping solutions that provide optimal care. I invite our local business community to attend my Health Technology Summit this year, scheduled for May 10 at the Montage Laguna Beach, where we will explore exciting issues, hear from key players and collaborate on potential solutions.
I believe that medical technology companies must collaborate closely with clinicians to ensure that products are designed with the patient’s best interest and the clinician’s insights in mind. This synergy will drive the next era of medical advancements, and it’s here where I believe the future of healthcare truly lies.
Additionally, advancing technology to address the needs of underrepresented communities is essential. Rural populations and poorer communities often lack sufficient access to care, creating significant health inequities. Targeted technological solutions can help bridge this gap and ensure more equitable healthcare for all.
Facing the Tsunami Together
Despite the challenges, I remain optimistic. Our field has made incredible strides, and I firmly believe that with continued innovation, collaboration and a focus on patient well-being, we can overcome the growing burden of heart disease. The increasing number of technology innovators entering the field, working alongside experienced medical professionals, is reimagining healthcare and creating opportunities for individuals to take greater control of their health. Our role as cardiovascular specialists extends beyond treating the diseases of today; it includes anticipating the needs of tomorrow and developing innovative solutions. While we’ve achieved so much, there is still significant work ahead.
Ultimately, my passion for cardiology stems from the profound impact we make with every life saved. As medicine continues to evolve, I am confident that today’s advancements will shape a healthier future for generations to come. This relentless progress not only drives my commitment but also inspires me to lead in a field that consistently pushes boundaries and transforms lives.
The Heart of the Matter
● Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States since 1921.
● Since 1950, death rates from cardiovascular disease (CVD) have declined 60%.
● Stroke was ranked as the third leading cause of death in 1938; however, stroke mortality has been on the decline and now ranks No. 5.
● Cigarette smoking has fallen dramatically from >40% of U.S. adults smoking in the mid-1960s to ≈11% today.
● About 128 million Americans over the age of 20, about 49% of the adult population, have CVD, including coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke or hypertension.
● More than 71% of U.S. adults are overweight with a body mass index ≥30.0 kg/m.
● Fewer than one-fourth, 24%, of U.S. adults meet national recommendations for physical activity.
Source: American Heart Association
