Japan’s Cardiovascular Playbook: A Living History Book of Prevention | JACC Baran

Hosts Mitsuaki Sawano, MD, Shun Kohsaka, MD, and Satoshi Shoji, MD welcome Prof. Tomonori Okamura, MD, and Dr. Aya Hirata, MPH, PhD (Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Keio University School of Medicine) to discuss their JACC Viewpoint, “Current Status of Cardiovascular Disease in Japan: Prevention Strategies, Future Challenges, and Fundamental Lessons.” Building on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 analysis featured in Epi 40, this episode explores why Japan has achieved one of the world’s lowest cardiovascular DALY and mortality rates, highlighting decades of population-wide hypertension control, universal health insurance, and nationwide health checkups. The conversation then turns to emerging challenges—including super-aging, metabolic risk, and heart failure—and asks a key question: how can Japan move beyond single–risk-factor success toward personalized, sustainable prevention strategies for the next era of cardiovascular health? #jaccbaran