The IJN Heart Interchange 2025, held successfully on October 11, 2025, at the Crowne Plaza Kuala Lumpur, served as a vital platform for advancing cardiometabolic and renal care in Malaysia. Organized by Boehringer Ingelheim in collaboration with the National Heart Institute (IJN), the event fostered a meaningful dialogue between primary care physicians and tertiary specialists.
For those who attended, it was an day of rich learning. For those who couldn’t, here’s a recap of the groundbreaking discussions that took place.
A Deep Dive on Heart and Kidney Interplay
I was honored to contribute to the discourse in the Tertiary Hospital breakout room with my session, “HF and CKD, Are They A Double Threat?”. We delved into the complex bidirectional relationship where Heart Failure (HF) and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) exacerbate each other, creating significant clinical challenges. The session focused on practical, evidence-based strategies for managing this high-risk patient population, a topic that resonated deeply with the attendees.
A Gathering of Medical Minds
The symposium was packed with insightful presentations from the nation’s leading experts:
- Rethinking CKM Management: Prof. Dr. Lim Lee Ling set the stage by re-evaluating the roadmap for Cardiometabolic Kidney disease.
- Initiating Heart Failure Conversations: Dr. Teoh Chee Kiang provided crucial frameworks for kickstarting early and effective dialogues on Heart Failure.
- Spotlight on CKD: Prof. Dr. Lim Soo Kun brought CKD into sharp focus, emphasizing its central role in cardiovascular health.
- Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: Dato’ Sri Dr. Azhari Rosman highlighted forward-thinking strategies for risk reduction clinics.
The parallel breakout sessions further enriched the experience, featuring real-world case presentations on diabetes, hypertension, and early detection of heart failure, all culminating in dynamic panel discussions like the “Heart to Heart Talk.”
While the 2025 event has concluded, the knowledge shared and connections forged continue to impact patient care. The commitment shown by all participants underscores a collective drive toward excellence in managing heart and kidney diseases in Malaysia.
We extend our gratitude to all the speakers, chairs, and attendees for making the IJN Heart Interchange 2025 a resounding success.