1. Tell us about The International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology (ISHNE). When was it formed, and why?
The International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology (ISHNE) was created to promote and advance the science of noninvasive electrocardiology in all of its phases and to encourage the continuing education of physicians, scientists, and the general public in the science of Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology.
ISHNE was formed in 1984 and it provides a specialized focus on noninvasive electrocardiology. Our particular emphasis is on new developments in 12-lead ECG, exercise ECG, Holter monitoring, signal averaging, dispersion of repolarization, T-wave alternans, Heart rate turbulence, external defibrillation, as well as advances in the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmia and ischemia. Most of those who developed these methods or the main investigators in recently noninvasive trials are members of our Society.
The Society is active in more than 100 countries and is committed to advancing the science of cardiology through its educational programs, mainly web-based, fellowships, and scientific awards. We offer memberships to physicians and scientists involved in clinical and research aspects of noninvasive electrocardiology. Its official journal is the Annals on Noninvasive Electrocardiology, the Editor-in-Chief of which is Arthur Moss, MD, and is indexed in the Index Medicus with an important impact factor.
2. Who can join ISHNE? Approximately, how many members are there currently?
Any cardiologist, or medical professional, as well as allied professionals, may become members of the Society. Its registration is free of charge, according to our philosophy, and there are more than 17,000 members worldwide.
3. What are some of the benefits of the ISHNE membership?
Basically, being part of a growing society, where all the members have the chance to participate in the development, sharing a place to discuss on the topic of arrhythmias, and having access free of charge to all the activities.
4. What are some of the activities or meetings that ISHNE has participated in this year?
ISHNE had two different educational activities: live and web-based. During most of the major congresses related to arrhythmias, the Society had joint activities:
-World Congress of Cardiology, BA, May 2008. A joint HRS-ISHNE meeting was conducted within the framework of the World Congress, with quite a good audience.
-2nd International Workshop in Noninvasive Electrocardiology in Timisoara, Romania, June 4-6, 2008. Chair: Victor Moga.
-Cardiostim, Nice, June 2008, where a 3-day symposium was held, with round tables and the presentation of oral brief communications and posters. The symposium was chaired by Drs. Zareba W, Dubner S, Moss AJ, and Hombach V.
The Sessions were: Update on Inherited Arrhythmia Disorders, Inherited Arrhythmia Syndromes, Resynchronization Therapy, Atrial Fibrillation, Syncope, Autonomic Control and its Monitoring, Timing of Noninvasive Testing.
-The 19th Great Wall International Congress of Cardiology (GW-ICC) Beijing, Oct 23rd to Oct 26th, 2008 – Chair: Dayi Hu – Joint session.
-Educational Symposium on Noninvasive Electrocardiology, Belgrade, Serbia, November 1st. Chair: Branislav Milovanovic.
-International Forum of Arrhythmias – 4th Congress on Update in Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Anatolia, Turkey, Nov 28th-Dec 2nd, 2008 – Chair: Ali Oto – Joint session.
-13th International Symposium on Progress in Clinical Pacing, Rome, chaired by M. Santini, where 3 round tables related to Arrhythmias on Sports will be performed.
-ACC 09 – Orlando Fl. A joint ACC09/ISHNE session will be performed.
-Our most important activity will be the Biannual Congress of ISHNE that will take place in Yokohama, Japan, on June 2nd-4th, 2009.
Another important activity of the Society is its web-based program. We performed during this year, the World Congress on Myocardial Ischemia and the 2nd Worldwide Internet Symposium on Heart Failure, both of them on the Internet, in English with simultaneous translations into Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and Portuguese; with CME credits and an important interaction between faculties and registrants. There were 16,000 registrants in each one and a large number of visits per day.
5. Tell us about the upcoming 13th Biannual Congress of ISHNE. What are some of the topics that will be covered at this meeting?
As every two years, the Society organizes a congress, the most important educational activity of the Society. The next year will be held in Yokohama, Japan, and Teruhisa Tanabe, the President of the Congress is making an outstanding job for its success. Some of the topics that will be covered are the following:
SCD: Epidemiology, mechanism, and underlying disease.
Practice guidelines for prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death.
Update on risk stratification methods.
Clinical issues in MI, DCM, HCM, and inherited disorders.
Noninvasive early detection of CV risk.
Resynchronization therapy.
High risk identification for ICD implantation.
The next Biannual Congresses will be held in Moscow, Russia, 2011, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
6. What are some of the ways in which Holter monitoring and noninvasive electrophysiology might differ around the world? What are some of the ways in which clinical guidelines for monitoring and electrocardiology might differ?
Noninvasive studies are similar all over the world; the only problem is that they are not always available for all the professionals, or are available in different conditions. For instance, numerous studies have been conducted on TWA and HRT that show the significance of these 2 methods to identify patients in risk of sudden cardiac death; however, these techniques are not available in most of the countries other than USA or European countries. For this reason, the Society will conduct a joint ACC09/ISHNE session in Orlando, March 2009, about such an important topic.
7. What do you consider the most promising technological or research developments in electrophysiology? What advancements would you like to see made?
Currently, a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction of 35% or less is the main indicator to identify high risk patients. Although an excellent marker of total cardiac mortality, it is not specific for sudden cardiac death. So, noninvasive risk stratifiers should be the most promising technological developments in the evaluation of cardiac arrhythmias and high risk identification. Several advancements have been made in this arena, and ISHNE has recently published in the JACC October 08 issue, a consensus statement about one of these techniques.
8. Why is it important for electrophysiology professionals to get involved with the ISHNE?
It is important because of the scientific level of its members and the chance of a direct interaction with all of them. We are a Society that has greatly grown over the last few years, but on the other hand we maintain the relationships proper of a small society, thus enabling a direct relationship, without protocols.
9. What are the ISHNE's goals for the future?
Basically, the education through the Biannual Congress in Japan, the participation in the most important international congresses, including the ACC, the continuity of its activities through the Internet, which will include the CRT 09 Symposium, chaired by Drs. Auricchio and Steinberg, a course on electrocardiography chaired by Bayés de Luna, and Symposium on Atrial Fibrillation chaired by Dr. John Camm. Besides these activities, the Society is encouraging the preparation of guidelines and consensus about noninvasive electrocardiography topics, that will be published in our official journal, the Annals, and other renowned journals.
10. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
According to the philosophy of the Society, all of the activities are free of charge, and I invite all the colleagues that are interested in noninvasive electrocardiography, to join us in this very promising project. Just go to www.ishne.org and you will be just a click away from this exciting world of arrhythmias.
ISHNE | International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology
