The Department of Heart and Vascular Diseases, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Sumatera Utara, in collaboration with the Association of Indonesian Cardiovascular Specialists (PERKI) North Sumatra, the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) North Sumatra, the Central General Hospital (RSUP) Haji Adam Malik Medan, the Integrated Heart Center, and the Indonesian Heart Foundation, held a social service activity on Monday, June 12, 2023 in Labuhan Batu Regency, North Sumatra.

The activities carried out are:

  • Screening for Congenital Heart Disease, Rheumatic Heart Disease, Pulmonary Hypertension, and Arrhythmia.

  • Basic Life Support Training.

  • Lay Counseling.Metabolic.

  • Screening Examination.

This community service activity was carried out by a Community Service team consisting of staff of the Department of Heart and Vascular Diseases FK USU, PPDS Heart and Vascular Diseases FK USU, members of PERKI SUMUT, and the Labuhan Batu Regional Government. Community service was carried out simultaneously on Monday, June 12, 2023 in two places, namely SMP N 1 Rantauprapat and Asrama Haji Rantauprapat. Activities carried out in this community service in the form of rheumatic/valvular heart disease screening, pulmonary hypertension, and BHD training.

Cardiovascular disease is still a global health problem. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) states that the death rate due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) is 17.7 million people each year and accounts for 31% of all global deaths. Heart disease in Indonesia is a complex issue. It can occur in the community due to a sedentary lifestyle or due to heart infections which are still high in prevalence in developing countries such as Indonesia. Based on doctor's diagnosis, the prevalence of coronary heart disease in Indonesia in 2013 was 0.5% or an estimated 883,447 people, while based on doctor's diagnosis/symptoms it was 1.5%.

We conduct screening using echocardiography examination, which allows us to evaluate the function and structure of the heart and heart blood vessels. By detecting heart abnormalities early, the hope is to prevent the development of more serious heart diseases in the future. In addition, we also screen for rheumatic heart disease, pulmonary hypertension and arrhythmia.

In addition, we organize Basic Life Support training at the site. How many participants attended this training? It is important for the general public to understand the importance of Basic Life Support (BHD) training. BHD is a crucial skill in preserving a person's life when facing an emergency or life threatening situation. BHD training can be done by medical personnel or by ordinary individuals who have received training. BHD is a series of actions to restore respiratory and circulatory function in a person experiencing cardiac arrest, respiratory distress, respiratory arrest, or airway obstruction.

Basic life support is very important to be given immediately to people who are unconscious and not breathing. It is hoped that this activity can equip the community with these skills that are useful for saving people's lives when faced with emergency situations before getting further help from doctors.

We also provided health counseling to the general public at the location. We delivered information on Coronary Heart Disease, Diabetes Mellitus and Critical Congenital Heart Disease. This knowledge is very important for the community as some of the risk factors associated with these diseases can be avoided and modified, so the potential for future worsening can be minimized. We would like to know how many participants actively participated in this counseling. With this activity, we hope that the community can become more educated about these diseases.

In addition, we also conducted metabolic screening checks on the participants. This involves measuring blood sugar and cholesterol levels. If unchecked, high blood sugar and cholesterol levels can increase the risk of diseases such as heart attack, stroke, coronary heart disease, carotid artery disease, sudden cardiac arrest, peripheral artery disease and microvascular disease in the future. We not only conduct examinations, but also provide education to participants about risk factors that need to be avoided, such as obesity, inactive lifestyle, lack of regular physical activity, alcohol use, smoking, illegal drugs, type 2 diabetes, thyroid disease, chronic kidney or liver disease, advanced age, fatty and high-sugar diet, and family history of dyslipidemia. With the implementation of this activity, we hope that participants can adopt a healthier lifestyle and diet to prevent these diseases in the future.

This community service activity was carried out by the Community Service team consisting of staff of the Department of Heart and Vascular Diseases FK USU, PPDS Heart and Vascular Diseases FK USU, members of PERKI SUMUT, and the Labuhan Batu Regional Government. Community service was carried out simultaneously on Monday, June 12, 2023 in two places, namely SMP N 1 Rantauprapat and Asrama Haji Rantauprapat. Activities carried out in this community service in the form of rheumatic/valvular heart disease screening, pulmonary hypertension, and BHD training.