ICFHS researchers showcase future directions in cardiovascular care at CSANZ 2026

Researchers from the UNSW International Centre for Future Health Systems (ICFHS) have presented at the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting, highlighting how health systems need to evolve to meet the growing burden of cardiovascular disease.  The presentations focused on two major priorities for cardiovascular health: improving the prevention and management of hypertension and developing more scalable, flexible and sustainable approaches to heart failure care.

Dr Jialing Lin presented research on hypertension, a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Her work highlighted team-based care models as opportunities to strengthen prevention, early detection and ongoing management through health-system approaches that improve access, continuity of care and equity.  Professor Patricia Davidson focused on the future of heart failure management, arguing that health systems need to transition from traditional “Heart Failure Management 1.0” models to a new “Heart Failure Management 2.0” approach. 

While established heart failure programs have demonstrated the value of specialist multidisciplinary care, coordinated discharge planning and structured disease management, the increasing prevalence of heart failure, population ageing, multimorbidity and workforce pressures mean these models must now evolve.  Professor Davidson proposed three defining principles for the next generation of heart failure care: Scale, Flexibility and Sustainability. 

Heart Failure Management 2.0 requires models that can reach larger and more diverse populations, including people living in regional, rural and underserved communities. It also requires greater integration between primary care, specialist services and community-based care, supported by multidisciplinary teams, virtual care and digitally enabled approaches.

Importantly, successful innovation must extend beyond developing effective interventions. Future models must be designed for implementation, adaptation and sustainability in real-world health systems, with equity embedded from the outset. Together, the presentations reflect ICFHS’s broader mission to identify how health systems can better translate evidence into accessible, person-centred and sustainable care. 

As cardiovascular disease continues to create significant health and health-system pressures, the challenge is increasingly not only what works, but how proven approaches can be delivered to more people, in more settings, over the long term.  The future of cardiovascular care will depend on health systems capable of delivering high-quality care at scale, with flexibility and sustainably.