Hope for the Heart: Experts say heart failure is treatable if caught early

Tweet

A panel of experts discuss how the approval of AstraZeneca’s Dapagliflozin as a treatment option can make a difference in the lives of thousands of Filipinos. 

(Photo clockwise from above left: Dr. Cyril Tolosa, Head of Medical Affairs, AstraZeneca Philippines, Dr. Erlyn Demerre,  Professor David Sim, Lotis Ramin, Country President, AstraZeneca Philippines, Dr. Alberto Pamplona Jr., Dr. Norbert Uy) 

 

(Manila, Philippines)  Heart failure, commonly called “pumapalyang puso”, affects thousands of Filipinos and approximately 64 million people worldwide, with half of patients dying within five years of diagnosis 1, 2, 3, 4. 

 

Patients with heart failure experience physical and emotional symptoms. It limits their activities resulting to poor quality of life. Even when resting, some patients start experiencing shortness of breath and feeling gets heavier and heavier each day. Everyday activities are getting harder making them feel very vulnerable and hopeless. Many patients have shared that they feel as if they are merely waiting for death and feel guilty about placing a huge economic and emotional burden on their families. 

The good news is that heart failure can be treated and even prevented. To raise conversation and awareness, AstraZeneca Philippines hosted a panel of experts from the Philippines and around the world to discuss the latest developments on heart failure. 

According to Professor David Sim, President of the Heart Failure Society in Singapore, 9 million people in Southeast Asia have heart failure with an overall 15% mortality rate 5,6. However, pharmacological options for heart failure have increased over the last decade and guideline-directed heart failure pharmacotherapy cumulatively reduces mortality by 76% 7.  He highlighted “The approval of dapagliflozin for the treatment of HFrEF in Philippines is a major step forward  in the battle against the disease burden of heart failure. Together with the current standard of care, dapagliflozin will contribute further  to a lower mortality , less heart failure hospitalization and importantly a better quality of life for the patients suffering from heart failure”.

Professor Piotor Ponikowski of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology added that "heart failure is becoming a preventable and treatable disease, with medication that allows patients to live longer and live better outside of the hospital.” 

 

These current developments in the treatment options bring hope to Filipinos diagnosed with heart failure. With the approval of AstraZeneca’s Dapagliflozin as a treatment option for heart failure, Filipinos can now avail of medication that can mitigate the disease. 

 

In his presentation on Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse-outcomes in Heart Failure Trial (DAPA HF) Trial: A New Era in Heart Failure Management, Professor Piotr Ponikowski says “Dapagliflozin has the ability to reduce mortality, prevent hospital admission, improve clinical status, functional capacity, and quality of life.” 

 

As such, to further work towards improved quality care in the Philippines, AstraZeneca also announced a partnership  with the Philippine Heart Association (PHA)  to elevate the standardized care and quality improvement efforts for heart failure to promote better awareness, management and options for patients. 

 

Lotis Ramin, AstraZeneca Philippines Country President says, 

“During this COVID-19 pandemic, people with heart failure are among those at higher risk of complications. Proper disease management will help improve the condition and avoid hospitalization. With the approval of Dapagliflozin for use in adult patients suffering from heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, , we are proud to give hope to the numerous Filipinos affected by heart failure.  Through our partnership with PHA, we aim for a comprehensive cardiovascular care program from prevention, timely diagnosis, and management of symptoms for heart failure to create a meaningful difference in the lives of Filipinos.”  

 

Do not delay. Get an early diagnosis and begin treatment. Start a conversation on heart failure with your doctor today.  

 

About Dapagliflozin  

Dapagliflozin is the first and only drug under the sodium glucose transport protein 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i)  class approved to treat heart failure in adult patients with reduced ejection fraction (pumapalyang puso). 10,11,12 It is the only SGLT2i proven to significantly prevent cardiovascular death and death due to other causes in these heart failure patients.9   

 

This approval was based on the landmark trial Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse-outcomes in Heart Failure Trial (DAPA HF) 1.  It is the first outcomes trial with an SGLT2 inhibitor investigating the treatment of Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).1 The results showed a reduction of 26% in the occurence of cardiovascular death, hospitalization for heart failure (hHF) and Urgent Hospital Visit for heart failure (HF) along with a 30% reduction in hHF. 1 Dapagliflozin’s significant 18% reduction in cardiovascular death and 17% reduction on death due to other causes which were only seen in the DAPA HF study. 9 

 

Dapagliflozin has offered an additional treatment option for patients suffering from the symptoms of heart failure and are at risk of dying given the high mortality rate of the disease. Safety findings in patients were consistent with the well established safety profile of Dapagliflozin in previous studies.  It is consistent regardless of age, gender, severity of heart failure, diabetes status and kidney function1. Dapagliflozin was well tolerated and adverse event rarely led to the discontinuation of treatment1,8.  

 

In the Philippines, Dapagliflozin is now approved for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in adult patients. Dapagliflozin is a prescription medicine.10 Patients should not selfmedicate and should consult their physicians regarding their condition and treatment. 

 

About AstraZeneca  

 

AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas - Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the Company on Twitter @AstraZeneca. 

 

References 

 

1. McMurray JJV et al. Dapagliflozin in Patients with Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction. N Engl J Med 2019. 

2. Mayo Clinic. Heart failure; 2017 [cited 2019 Aug 14]. Available from: URL: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-failure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373142. 

3. Vos T et al. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 328 diseases and injuries for 195 countries, 1990–2016: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The Lancet 2017; 390(10100):1211–59. 

4. Mozaffarian D et al. Circulation. 2016 Jan 26;133(4):e38-360 and the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_heart_failure.htm. 

5. Mamas MA et al. Do patients have worse outcomes in heart failure than in cancer? A primary carebased cohort study with 10-year follow-up in Scotland. Eur J Heart Fail 2017; 19(9):1095–104. 

6. Azad N, Lemay G. Management of chronic heart failure in the older population. J Geriatr Cardiol 2014; 11(4):329–37. 

7. Study done by National University Health Center (NUHCS)   &Regional and ethnic differences among patients with heart failure in Asia: the Asian sudden cardiac  death in heart failure registry Eur Heart J. 2016;37(41):3141-3153. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehw331 

8. Petrie MC, Verma S, Docherty KF, et al. Effect of dapagliflozin on worsening heart failure and cardiovascular death in patients with heart failure with and without diabetes. JAMA. 2020;323:13531368. 

9. Zannad, Faiez et al. SLGT2 inhibitors in patients with heart failjure with reduced ejection fraction: a meta-analysis of the Emperor-Reduced and Dapa HF Trial. www.thelancet.com Published online August 30, 2020 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31824-9 

10. Dapagliflozin (Forxiga TM) Full Prescribing Information. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Phils. Inc. January 2021. 

11. Canagliflozin (Invokana TM) Full Prescribing Information. Jansenn Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Revised 2020. 

12. Empagliflozin (Jardiance TM) Full Prescribing Information. Boehringer Ingelheim International. Revised 2020. 

 

 

 

Shop for your everyday essentials and more at the PayMaya Mall!

Tweet

Get the best deals in mobile and cashless shopping at the newly launched PayMaya Mall

Filipinos now have an easier way to shop for their everyday essentials and more and pay cashless for their purchases with the launch of the PayMaya Mall -- a one-stop shop for your mobile shopping needs all within your PayMaya app!

Whether you’re craving for your favorite meals at Jollibee or McDonald’s, looking to buy your groceries at Landers, or shopping for cool new sneakers at Nike, you can find everything you need and get the best deals at the PayMaya Mall.

With your favorite brands housed inside this virtual mall in your PayMaya app, going cashless for your everyday needs is now easier than ever. All you have to do is open your PayMaya app, tap PayMaya Mall and browse through over 100 of PayMaya's partner brands featured inside including Jollibee, McDonald's, Goldilocks, Rustan's, Park Outlet, Mercury Drug, Rose Pharmacy, Landers, AllHome and Boozy, among so many others.

And because you're transacting with PayMaya's trusted partner merchants, you can rest assured that you're only purchasing from legitimate sellers--whether it's a big lifestyle brand, a multinational merchant, or even local businesses.

“In the past year, PayMaya has enabled millions of Filipinos to utilize safe and convenient contactless payment for their everyday needs as we accelerated our push to build a 'Cashless Philippines'. With the launch of PayMaya Mall today, we’re taking this cashless convenience to the next level by bringing consumers the unique mall experience they have grown to love inside the PayMaya app. Now, on top of settling their bills or sending money to their loved ones, they can also pay for their groceries, order lunch, or shop for beauty products, all in one convenient mobile and cashless shopping experience,” said Mark Jason Dee, Head of Growth Marketing and Partnerships of PayMaya.  

Enjoy the best shopping deals at PayMaya Mall

Shopping at PayMaya Mall isn’t just convenient and safe—it’s also the most rewarding way to go cashless. Whatever item you want to purchase, you can find it at the PayMaya Mall and enjoy the best deals through PayMaya’s Balik Bayad promos and exclusive offers from partner merchants.

To kick off your rewarding PayMaya Mall experience, PayMaya is bringing in the good luck this Chinese New Year of the Ox as it offers up to P880 cashback for your purchases inside PayMaya Mall. For a minimum spend of P300 paid using your PayMaya mobile number, you can get a 20% cashback of up to P88 per transaction. You can enjoy this offer up to 10 times until March 15, 2021, or a total of P880 in Balik Bayad savings!

Availing of PayMaya's Balik Bayad offers at the PayMaya Mall is easy, all you have to do is shop at any of the brands featured at this virtual mall, choose the Pay with PayMaya option upon check out and key in your mobile number to complete your contactless payment transaction. 

On top of this Chinese New Year treat, you can also enjoy exclusive deals from your favorite brands at the PayMaya Mall. You can enjoy free delivery on your first Pick.A.Roo order (minimum of P500) just by entering the code PAYMAYAROO upon checkout; enjoy 12% off on your Rustans purchases, perfect for Valentine’s Day gifts; and even score a 5% discount on your Boozy haul for a chill Friday night at home.  

“At PayMaya Mall, we want to make sure that our users get the best cashless shopping experience, and that includes bringing them the best deals from the brands they love. With these exclusive promos and cashback offers, it’s easy to say that whatever you’re planning to buy – be it grocery items or your favorite fastfood meal – talagang mas sulit ‘yan sa PayMaya Mall!” Dee added.

Getting your own PayMaya account and enjoying the convenience of PayMaya Mall is very easy. Just download the PayMaya app at https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/425eb133 and register an account to find out what it’s like to go cashless with the fastest, safest, and most rewarding way to pay for anything online and in stores! Remember, for your everyday needs, don’t pay cash. PayMaya!  

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities, and government. Through its enterprise business, it is the largest digital payments processor for key industries in the country including "everyday" merchants such as the largest retail, food, gas, and eCommerce merchants as well as government agencies and units.   

Through its app and wallet, PayMaya provides over 28 million Filipinos with access to financial services. Customers can conveniently pay, add money, cash out or remit through its over 200,000 digital touchpoints nationwide. Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 37,000 partner agent touchpoints nationwide serves as last-mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved with access to digital services. To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

 

Autosweep & EasyTrip RFID loading quicker with GCash

Tweet

GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, now offers customers a more convenient way of loading their Autosweep & EasyTrip RFID accounts via the GCash app.

For a minimum amount of PHP 200, customers with GCash accounts can just go to the Pay Bills portion of the app, select Transportation, and choose either Autosweep or EasyTrip, and enter their account number and the amount they want to load. Topping up load using GCash eliminates the hassle of going to physical locations just to do the same, is evidently faster, and is contactless, keeping customers safe against the pandemic. 

 

“GCash has been a staunch advocate of cashless transactions for the transport industry, for both the public and private sectors, and we strongly support the Department of Transportation’s initiative to shift towards a cashless payment system for our national roads. Cashless transactions provide an unbeatable convenience to customers,” said Martha Sazon, President and CEO of GCash. 

 

“We also have already enabled bus, taxi, tricycle, and even ferry operators nationwide to accept cashless payments through GCash, even before the new normal,” Sazon added.

The RFID technology is now essential when traveling to northern and southern regions outside Metro Manila, as it allows cashless payments without stopping at toll gates. 

 

San Miguel Corporation's (SMC) Autosweep RFID covers Skyway, NAIAX, SLEX,MCX, STARTOLL, while Metro Pacific Tollways’ (MPTC) EasyTrip covers Cavitex, C5 Link, NLEX, SCTEX, and CALAX. Vehicles traveling on these roads are required to have RFID stickers starting January 11, 2021.

 

Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), which operates GCash, is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly-owned by Globe Telecom Inc.

 

GCash is available for download on the App Store and Google Play. 

For more information, kindly visit https://www.gcash.com/.

‘BLACKPINK: THE SHOW’ reinvents the concert experience for BLINKs worldwide

Tweet

  

While live concerts were put to a stop by the pandemic, that didn’t hinder international K-Pop group BLACKPINK from entertaining BLINKs worldwide! The music powerhouse launched its first-ever livestream concert entitled THE SHOW, on January 31, sponsored by Globe. BLINKs were able to get a reinvented concert experience featuring Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Rose at their best!

 

The livestream concert is part of Globe and BLACKPINK’s partnership under the telco’s newest campaign, Reinvent Your World, which empowers its customers to transform themselves in the digital world and open up to new and exciting possibilities, like THE SHOW for example, with Globe as their partner.

 

Kicking off the show with their 2019 hit Kill This Love, BLACKPINK gave a glimpse of what their world tour could have been if the pandemic was out of the picture. Complete with 10 different sets, spectacular and never-before-seen choreography, flashy costumes, and a full-on live ensemble, every BLINK watching at home surely felt like they were in the same venue as their idols.

 

BLACKPINK performed their hit songs Whistle, Boombayah, Don’t Know What to Do, As If It’s Your Last, and an electrifying and fiercer rendition of Ddu-Du Ddu-Du as they danced in shallow waters with fire in the background. Of course, THE SHOW was also an opportunity for BLACKPINK to perform some of the tracks on THE ALBUM live including How You Like That, Lovesick Girls, Love to Hate Me, and You Never Know.

 

Each member gifted BLINKs with a solo performance in between sets. Jisoo sang a stripped-back version of Tove Lo’s “Habits (Stay High)” wearing an immaculate floral gown; Lisa showed her rapping and dancing prowess with her own spin on Doja Cat’s “Say So;” Jennie served looks and talent as she performed a revamped version of her song, “Solo;” and Rose rivetingly unveiled her highly anticipated debut solo track “Gone”.

 

In one of the more tender moments of the show, a throwback clip was shown, presenting BLACKPINK in an empty arena as they looked back at their first concert. “The concert was one of our big dreams. I was highly excited and I had high expectations. I think it was a very precious moment,” said Rose. “It was a tour that clearly showed us the relationship between BLACKPINK and BLINKs.”

 

The girls also addressed their fans in the video, expressing how much they miss performing in front of them and feeling their love through cheers and waves of lightsticks. “It’s been a while since we’ve met, so I hope we can all have fun [during THE SHOW],” added Lisa.

 

For their last song, BLACKPINK sang Forever Young as they were surrounded with messages sent by BLINKs from all parts of the world to close THE SHOW on a high, hopeful note. Fans took it to social media to express how they enjoyed the livestream concert with some even holding watch parties with their fellow BLINKs featuring BLACKPINK-themed snacks and decorations. Other BLINKs also wore their merch and took out their lightsticks to really get the feel of the concert experience.

 

Those with membership access to BLACKPINK’s YouTube channel who want to rewatch the concert will be able to do so over the next Sunday, February 14, at 2 AM, 10 AM, 3 PM and 8PM  (Philippine Time).

 

"Globe continues to provide its customers with a unique and reinvented experience through world-class partnerships -- such as the one with BLACKPINK -- together with a dependable and continuously-improving network, and access to the latest technology like 5G, LTE-Advanced Home Prepaid WiFi and Unli Fiber Plans. Indeed, Globe helps its subscribers reinvent their world amidst these challenging times," said Issa Guevarra-Cabreira, Globe's Chief Commercial Officer.

 

To know more, visit www.globe.com.ph

 

 

Just In Time For Breakfast: The Bicol Express Longganisa

Tweet

The long wait is over and the Bicol Express is here to stay–as a longganisa!

That’s exactly what the Bicol Express Longganisa–developed by the same team behind the now-famous Laing Longganisa (after gaining social media momentum and a massive outing as one of the top ten products during the 2019 Ultimate Taste Test by Our Awesome Planet)–is all about.

Bicol Express and its roots

Like many other Filipino dishes, the Bicol Express has several iterations. What remains constant however is its use of pork, balao/balaw, or local salted baby shrimps, coconut milk, chili, and aromatics.

In some areas of Bicol, versions of it may incorporate vegetables such as string beans, winged beans, and bell pepper.

Some would add pineapples, adding a layer of sweetness to the dish. Others have versions of the Bicol Express as sauteed and pan-fried with little coconut milk, while others would be in its original stew version.

While the origin of the dish (and its name) is widely debated (others credit its roots to a non-Bicolana cook who was inspired by Bicol’s Gulay a Lada, or Sinilihang Gulay during her stay in the region in her youth), it is a fact that the Bicol Express has become synonymous to the region’s cuisine alongside Laing/Katanga/Nantong and Pinangat.

Onboard the regional cuisine trend/train

“We wanted to bank on the booming national and global interest towards local cuisine,” Rica Buenaflor of Que Rica says, “and we started with the Laing Longganisa.”, 

With a massive response towards that idea of regional cuisine being made available and easy to prepare, her team has invested in the development and packaging of Pili Nuts (also a hit) in novel flavors such as Truffle-Pecorino Cheese.

After several successful product launches (bottled ready-to-eat meals such as Sinantolan (minced cotton fruit in coconut milk), Vegan Laing (shrimp- and meat-free dried gabi leaves in coconut milk), and other meat products such as the Pineapple-Cured Chicken Tocino) in events, bazaars, and in the digital space, the Que Rica team is taking Bicol cuisine to new, greater heights.

“The Bicol Express Longganisa is one of the five (5) new products we have developed recently while in quarantine,” she quips, “and instead of pork we used chicken to cater to customers who like healthier options.”

Several products are also in the pipeline and who knows–we’d all end up as passengers to such Bicol Express-sions of food!

Order the Bicol Express Longganisa, in a pack of 8pcs or 350g, here.

-------

Que Rica is a brand of fine tasting products crafted in Bicol for Filipinos in the world. The brainchild of the Le Cordon Bleu Paris-trained Ched Rica Buenaflor, it takes pride in our culinary traditions while continuing to push the boundaries of what delights the Filipino palate. Local, healthy, and proud will be forever in its DNA. It is owned and managed by Phenomenon Group Inc.

Instagram: @querica.ph

Facebook: @querica.ph

Youtube: Que Rica’s Kitchen

Private Viber Community: Que Rica VIPs

Newsletter Subscription: Subscribe

Customer Feedback: Submit Feedback

Website: www.querica.ph