Prof. Dr. Martin Halle, head of the Department for Prevention, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, has been appointed the new President of the “European Association of Preventive Cardiology” (EAPC), one of seven sections of the “European Society of Cardiology” (ESC), on 1 September. Having already been elected for the 2020-2022 term of office in 2018, he has since served as “President-Elect”.
“I am very pleased that, following my previous role as President-Elect, I am now officially accepting the office of President of the EAPC,” said Prof. Halle. “With my many years of involvement in science, teaching and research at the TU Munich, I have been able to significantly contribute to the development of preventive cardiology and sports cardiology in Germany. Now, my aim is to promote excellence in the research, practice, training and policy areas of cardiovascular health as well as primary and secondary prevention within the EAPC”.
Prof. Halle is the Medical Director of the Policlinic for Preventive and Rehabilitative Sports Medicine at the TUM University Hospital "Rechts der Isar". His research focuses on the importance of physical exercise in patients with cardiovascular risk factors, heart failure and following a heart attack, as well as obesity and metabolic syndrome during childhood and adulthood. Furthermore, he is also currently investigating the influence of exposure to acute stress, such as marathon running, on the metabolism, immune system and heart function and is initiating a wide range of prevention initiatives aimed at the general public.
The ESC is one of the largest and most important medical societies worldwide. It is designed to promote scientific exchange and quality assurance in initial and further education and training and to develop current guidelines in the field of cardiology. The ESC Congress, held at the beginning of September, is the world's largest cardiology congress. At this year's conference, Prof. Halle presented the current “Sport Cardiology” guidelines on recommendations for physical activity and sport for patients with cardiovascular diseases.
The EAPC is a group with over 3,500 members within the ESC, dedicated to optimizing the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. More than 70 international experts in epidemiology, exercise, rehabilitation, and sports cardiology support the EAPC Board via sections and committees.
Prof. Halle has set the following priorities for his Presidency:
- Risk factors: Improved treatment of cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. diabetes, lipometabolic disorders) using an optimal combination of lifestyle intervention measures and pharmacological therapy.
- Nutrition: Strengthening the subject within the framework of ESC and EAPC congresses and further training measures, drawing up guidelines on nutrition (in prevention, rehabilitation, and sports cardiology) and implementing them in the general population.
- Children's health: Focusing on obesity and congenital heart disease in childhood as an important preventive topic in cardiology.
- Development of an implementation strategy: The “Lauf10!” health project, which has been successfully implemented in Bavaria since 2007, shall be introduced and established throughout Europe (“Walk10!”).
- Establishing “Sports cardiology/preventive cardiology” as an available additional qualification throughout Europe.
To the homepage of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC)
To the homepage of the Department for Prevention, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Martin Halle
Department for Prevention, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 56 (Campus C)
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24441
e-mail: sportmed(at)mri.tum.de
Text: Romy Schwaiger
Photo: Department for Prevention, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine