What Thailand Can Learn from Rural vs. Urban Heart Health Gaps

A new study from the University of Barcelona suggests a surprising and practical breakthrough in the fight against metabolic liver disease: two well-established drugs, pemafibrate and telmisartan, can reverse fat buildup in the liver in animal models when used together, and at half-doses that still deliver strong benefits. The research, published after a careful series of experiments in diet-induced models of MASLD, underscores the growing strategy of drug repurposing—finding new uses for medications that have already proven safe in humans. For Thai readers facing rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and related metabolic illnesses, the findings offer a glimmer of hope that accessible, safer therapies could emerge sooner rather than later, especially if translated into human studies and local clinical trials.

A new study reveals that nearly every major cardiovascular event—heart attack or stroke—is preceded by identifiable warning signs and risk factors. The research, which analyzed thousands of cases from South Korea and the United States, shows that more than 99% of heart disease incidents involved at least one measurable risk factor such as high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, high cholesterol, or smoking. What makes the study notable is that it looked at patients’ medical data across a broad population, not just individuals already flagged as at risk, suggesting there may be fertile ground for earlier intervention and prevention. The implications are profound for health systems in Thailand, where cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death and disability, and where prevention and early detection have long been central policy goals.

A major shift in cardiovascular guidance is reverberating across clinics and living rooms alike: the latest blood pressure guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology push for near-total abstinence or a drastic reduction in alcohol consumption as part of preventing and treating hypertension. The guidelines, which define high blood pressure as a reading of 130/80 mm Hg or higher, underscore that alcohol is a potent, modifiable risk factor alongside salt intake, smoking, physical inactivity, and chronic stress. The push comes after researchers pooled data from nearly 20,000 participants across multiple countries and found a clear, linear relationship between any amount of alcohol and higher blood pressure. The message is direct: healthcare providers should routinely ask patients with unexpectedly high readings about their drinking habits, and patients should consider marriage of care with cautious, mindful consumption.