Patients from Australia, India, Indonesia, South Korea and Singapore
gathered at Edwards Lifesciences' annual APAC Patient Experience event to share
their stories and help advance more patient-centered care.
SINGAPORE, 20 August 2026 : As structural heart disease
continues to impact a growing number of people across Asia Pacific amid a
rapidly ageing population, Edwards Lifesciences (Edwards) brought together
patients for its annual Asia-Pacific Patient Experience event. The programme
created a platform for patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and
employees to share perspectives, foster meaningful connections and deepen
understanding of the patient journey.
More than 80 million people worldwide live with some type of heart
valve disease, according to the American Heart Association. With Asia Pacific
ageing faster than any other region in the world, a substantial rise in
degenerative valvular heart disease across the region is expected in the coming
years. Recent research highlights valvular heart disease as a growing health
burden across Asia Pacific, driven by demographic changes and increasing life
expectancy. These trends underscore the importance of understanding patient
experiences and ensuring patient perspectives help inform future care.
The Patient Experience event is a cornerstone of Edwards'
patient-focused culture and reflects the company's belief that patient voices
should help shape the future of care. By listening directly to patients'
experiences, from diagnosis and treatment through recovery, Edwards gains
valuable insights into the realities of living with structural heart disease.
These perspectives help strengthen patient engagement and advocacy efforts,
inspire innovation rooted in real-world needs, and reinforce the company's commitment
to improving outcomes and quality of life for patients.
While each patient's journey was unique, common themes emerged across
the event: unexpected diagnoses, uncertainty and fear following life-changing
news, reliance on family and caregivers for support, and the opportunity to
regain quality of life through timely treatment. Together, their stories
highlighted the importance of greater awareness, earlier intervention,
innovation and patient-centred care.
For Jai Arora, 47, from India, it began with fear.
"I was in the best shape of my life," Arora said.
"Finding out I had a serious heart condition was a shock, I never saw
coming. The idea that something could be wrong with my heart, when I felt
invincible, was terrifying."
For Haehun Choi, 72, from South Korea, the diagnosis came completely
without warning.
"I had no symptoms at all, I felt completely fine," Choi
said. "It was only because of a routine check-up, and because my daughter
booked me to see a specialist, that we found out how serious it was. If I
hadn't gone for the check-up, I don't know when we would have caught it.”
For Qi Le Ee, 17, from Singapore — the diagnosis came completely out
of the blue, beginning with nothing more than a persistent fever.
“It started with just a fever, we thought it was dengue,” said Ee. “I
was quite shocked when we found out how serious it actually was. Nothing about
it seemed like a heart problem, until suddenly it was.”
For Hermani, from Indonesia, it meant leaning on his family.
"This journey was never something I faced alone," Hermani
said. "I trusted my son to help me make the right decisions, and I trusted
the team who cared for me. Having them by my side made all the
difference."
For Geoff Lewis, 75, from Australia, it meant returning to spending
more time with his family.
"Every day I just seem to feel a little better," Lewis said.
"It's been like a second wind. “The first effect after the operation was
phenomenal. I'm able to do so much more, and I'm not slowing down the way I
used to and able to spend more time with my family.”
Turning Patient Insights into Action
Beyond their personal journeys, the stories shared during the event
offered valuable insights into the realities of living with structural heart
disease. From recognizing symptoms and navigating diagnosis to making treatment
decisions and recovering with the support of family and caregivers, these
experiences highlighted opportunities to better support patients throughout the
care journey.
"At Edwards, innovation begins with understanding the people we
serve," said Amit Raheja, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific, Edwards
Lifesciences. "The Patient Experience gives us the opportunity to learn
directly from patients and caregivers about the realities of living with
structural heart disease. Their experiences remind us that behind every
innovation is a person, a family and a journey, and they help guide us as we
work to improve outcomes for patients around the world."
Beyond patient sharing sessions, the programme included a tour of
Edwards' Singapore facility and demonstrations showcasing the craftsmanship
involved in developing structural heart technologies, offering patients a
closer look at the people, expertise and care behind every innovation.
By bringing together patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals
and employees, Edwards hopes to foster greater awareness of structural heart
disease while ensuring patient voices continue to inform the future of care
across Asia Pacific.
About Edwards Lifesciences
Edwards Lifesciences is the leading global structural
heart innovation company, driven by a passion to improve patient lives. Through
breakthrough technologies, world-class evidence and partnerships with
clinicians and healthcare stakeholders, our employees are inspired by our
patient-focused culture to deliver life-changing innovations to those who need
them most. Discover more at www.edwards.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.