The International Diabetes Federation (IDF), in collaboration with the World Heart Federation (WHF) and Sanofi’s Global Health Unit (GHU), announces the upcoming launch of an online course on the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The course is designed to strengthen the knowledge and skills of general practitioners, primary care physicians and other healthcare professionals involved in cardiovascular care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The course focuses on identifying, managing and reducing the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in people who have already experienced a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular event.
CVD accounts for approximately 20 million deaths annually, making it the leading cause of death worldwide – 33% of all deaths. It is the most common cause of death in people with diabetes. An estimated 590 million people are living with diabetes worldwide, 81% of whom live in LMICs.
CVD often develops over time and is shaped by behavioural, metabolic and social risk factors, making prevention and early risk management essential.
This initiative builds on the successful IDF-GHU Diabetes Training Initiative, launched in 2024, which has trained more than 5,000 healthcare professionals, including over 2,000 primary care physicians and 3,000 frontline healthcare professionals serving people with diabetes, such as nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists and community health workers.
The new course will equip healthcare professionals, including general practitioners and primary care physicians with practical, evidence-based guidance covering:
- An introduction to cardiovascular disease and the principles of secondary prevention.
- Lifestyle modifications, including dietary, physical activity and behavioural interventions to reduce recurrent event risk.
- Management of co-morbidities and cardiovascular risk factors, including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and other coexisting conditions.
- Patient-centred care, including shared decision-making, communication and management support tailored to individual patient needs.
- Cardiac rehabilitation, including structured rehabilitation pathways and long-term recovery support.
The course will be delivered online in English, French and Portuguese, and will be available through the IDF School of Diabetes platform. The initiative aims to train 5,000 healthcare professionals across 42 countries managed or serviced by Sanofi GHU, strengthening healthcare capacity in regions with high unmet medical needs.
Charlotte Wilming, Executive Director, International Diabetes Federation, said:
“No single organisation can solve the global healthcare burden alone, so partnerships are vital to creating sustainable health equity. By focusing on early detection and prevention, we can identify cardiovascular disease sooner and equip healthcare professionals with the skills to manage complications before they cause severe harm. We are proud to collaborate with the World Heart Federation and Sanofi’s Global Health Unit to deliver on this promise by giving physicians, nurses, educators, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in low- and middle-income countries the skills they need to help people living with diabetes manage their condition and improve their long-term health.”
Dr. Lilian Mbau, member of the World Heart Federation’s Advocacy Committee , said:
“People living with cardiovascular disease are at high risk of experiencing another heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event, yet access to evidence-based secondary prevention interventions remains uneven, particularly in resource-constrained settings. This course aims to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge, skills, and practical tools to implement evidence-based secondary prevention interventions adapted to their local context. Working with IDF and Sanofi GHU allows us to expand the reach of this curriculum beyond the three pilot countries, reaching many more healthcare professionals and translating into better patient outcomes.”
Jon Fairest, Head of Sanofi GHU, said:
“We are excited to expand our partnership with IDF and to collaborate with the World Heart Federation on this important initiative. Capacity building is one of the most effective ways to address critical healthcare gaps in low- and middle-income countries. By providing healthcare professionals with practical training in cardiovascular disease prevention and management, together we can help strengthen local health systems to improve outcomes for people living with these conditions.”
