Cardiovascular Health Resource Library
Find guidance, case studies, advocacy tools and more for large-scale heart health programs
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Resolve to Save Lives’ partnerships for heart health between 2018 and 2023 will result in 7.5 million fewer deaths worldwide. Here’s how we supported countries to make rapid progress, and how we measured our impact.
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New World Health Organization progress report, supported by RTSL.
Since initial call to action in 2018 for all countries to eliminate toxic trans fat and protect their people from this risk factor for heart attack and strokes, 43 more countries have banned trans fat protecting an additional 2.8 billion people, or 46% of the world—as compared to just 6% 5 years ago. The REPLACE technical package provides guidance on best-practice policies that governments can implement today to protect the remaining 54% of the world from this harmful but easily replaceable food additive.
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Nutrition standards guide developed by Resolve to Save Lives that governments can use to procure healthy foods and beverages purchased, served and/or sold in government settings such as schools, public hospitals, childcare or child development facilities, correctional facilities and government workplaces.
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Nutrition standards guide developed by Resolve to Save Lives that governments can use to procure healthy foods and beverages purchased, served and/or sold in government settings such as schools, public hospitals, childcare or child development facilities, correctional facilities and government workplaces.
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Playbook with step-by-step guidance for creating an effective digital tool for hypertension management and other chronic disease programs
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Core principles, benefits and resources for implementing healthy food procurement and service policies.
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Step-wise framework for monitoring, includes: 1) previous monitoring activities of school food programs, and 2) survey questions for initial assessment.
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The policy index measures the extent of implementation of health food environment policies by governments compared to international best practice and includes a module on Food Provision. Scientific article describes in detail: L’Abbe M, Schermel A, Minaker L, Kelly B, Lee A, Vandevijvere S, Twohig P, Sarquera S, Friel S, Hawkes C, et al. Monitoring foods and beverages provided and sold in public sector settings. Obesity Reviews. 2013;14(Suppl. 1):96–107l.
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Systematic review of the evidence base for healthy food procurement policies
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Toolkit for communications and advocacy activities to accelerate the adoption of trans fat elimination policies, including social media resources and customizable templates
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WHO’s first-ever report on the global burden of high blood pressure and the progress made to manage the disease.
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In the Journal of American College of Cardiology International, a summary of success, progress, and lessons learned during the first five years of the HEARTS initiative.
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There are five crucial components of hypertension care at public health scale: simple treatment protocols; access to quality, affordable medications, team-based care and task sharing; patient-centered care; and strong information systems.
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This framework summarizes the recommended components of a comprehensive dietary sodium reduction program, and provides links to existing implementation tools, examples of successful programs and other resources.
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Series of case studies documenting experiences from around the world with the implementation and enforcement of trans fat regulations
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Fact sheet from Resolve to Save Lives with practical steps for countries to develop and implement best practice trans fat elimination policies
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A practical guide to a patient-centered approach to integrating hypertension and HIV care using differentiated service delivery
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A hypertension control package for the District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2)—a free, open-source health management data platform.
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Fact sheet from Resolve to Save Lives with six steps to implementing a successful national hypertension control program.
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Fact sheet from Resolve to Save Lives on the status of trans fat elimination policies globally
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Our report, developed in collaboration with the Médecins Sans Frontières Access project, identifies barriers to affordable blood pressure medication in LMICs and underscores the need for a transformation of the global blood pressure medicines market to make life-saving medicines more affordable and available.
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This paper sets out an approach to measure the implementation of the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (DPAS) at country level and proposes a framework and indicators for this purpose. The indicators provided in this document should be seen as examples to be used, as appropriate, after adjusting to the country reality. The proposed framework and indicators are intended to provide a simple and reliable tool for Member States. The indicators are also intended to be flexible and adaptable to national circumstances and to take into account existing as well as planned activities in surveillance and monitoring.
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Describes five key elements of a healthy diet.
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Results of global survey on school meals; report identifies key aspects to consider when developing or updating school meal program standards.
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Searchable database of implemented policies to promote healthy diets and reduce obesity. Use Section O (Offer healthy food and set standards in public institutions and other specific settings) to search for public food procurement examples.
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A template for organizational food policy guidelines adapted from the CDC
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Model policies for policymakers. Website links to resources on creating healthy food service on government property and an infographic on buying food for health and equity.
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Provides an overview of how to develop, implement, assess compliance with, and evaluate the effectiveness of a healthy public food procurement and service policy. It is intended for government policy makers or program managers working on public food procurement or service, at either a national or a subnational level, including at regional, provincial and city levels.
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Fact sheet from Resolve to Save Lives on healthier replacement oils
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Website with all materials related to WHO’s REPLACE initiative
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Sampling protocol from Resolve to Save Lives and Global Health Advocacy Incubator
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Map from WHO showing status of trans fat elimination around the world
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Annotated bibliography from Resolve to Save Lives. Updated 5/2018.
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A document that sets global sodium benchmarks for different food categories to help reduce salt intake using country experiences (released in 2021)
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Step-by-step guide to developing front-of-package labels
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A nine-module online course to help policy makers and health advocates design, plan, and implement global sodium reduction interventions at low- and middle-income countries
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A report on key recommendations and advice to policymakers who are designing and implementing front-of pack food labelling in nutrition policies
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A resource that provides guidance for governments on how to develop, implement, and strengthen a healthy public food procurement or service on a national or sub-national level
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Strategies governments can use to reduce salt consumption—including rationale, steps for implementation, resources needed and examples from around the world.
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A technical package from WHO designed to assist countries with the development, implementation, and monitoring of salt reduction strategies to reduce population salt intake
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A collection of literature relevant to the science of salt reduction and on sodium reduction interventions
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Our guide for program managers starting up national or subnational hypertension control programs, broken down into six steps and and supported by practical tools from our hypertension control resource library and the WHO HEARTS technical package and adaptable to the local program and setting.
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Calculator modeling the impact of cardiovascular health interventions (including improved hypertension control) by country
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WHO’s technical package for cardiovascular disease management in primary health care
This two-page factsheet outlines the key takeaways from the full guide, Guide for Management of Overdue Patients with Hypertension, and is designed as a resource for staff in your hypertension clinic.
Other related resources:
- Designing an optimal digital tool for hypertension and other long-term treatment programs
- Leading a Good Data Review Meeting – full guide and factsheet
- Change Package: Overdue Patient Management
This one-page factsheet outlines the key takeaways from the full guide, Leading a Good Data Review Meeting, and is designed as a resource for staff in your hypertension clinic.
Other related resources:
The ultimate goal of a successful hypertension program is to improve blood pressure control at the population level. Establishing regular data review meetings to review program progress using the HEARTS360 dashboard can enhance decision-making and build a culture of quality and accountability for large-scale hypertension programs. Use the following four steps to identify, address, and track barriers to blood pressure control within your hypertension program.
Other related resources:
- Designing an optimal digital tool for hypertension and other long-term treatment programs
- Guide for Management of Overdue Patients with Hypertension
- Leading a Good Data Review Meeting – factsheet
- Phone Calls to Overdue Patients with Hypertension – factsheet
- Change Package: Overdue Patient Management
Program managers of large-scale hypertension programs can use the evidence-based interventions outlined in this new resource from Resolve to Save Lives to better track and manage patients overdue for a visit—and return them to care.
Other related resources:
In this new guide from Resolve to Save Lives, large-scale hypertension programs can better find patients who are overdue for a health visit and bring them back to care. Reducing loss to follow-up is a leading way to improve hypertension control and reduce deaths from heart attacks and strokes. Phone calls, text messages, and home visits keep patients retained in treatment.
Program managers can use this resource to support their staff to track and manage overdue patients and successfully get them the care they need.
Other related resources:
- Designing an optimal digital tool for hypertension and other long-term treatment programs
- Phone Calls to Overdue Patients with Hypertension – factsheet
- Leading a Good Data Review Meeting – full guide and factsheet
- Change Package: Overdue Patient Management
By bringing care delivery closer to communities, we can provide more people with access to quality care, improve hypertension control and save more lives. Our experts in India documented the decentralization process and its impact on patient outcomes in nine districts from 2018–2022.
Learn how integrating hypertension management in HIV services improved health outcomes in India.
Sodium reduction is the single most important dietary intervention for improving heart health and saving lives in India. Learn more in this resource developed by Resolve to Save Lives.
Learn more about Resolve to Save Lives’ comprehensive, cost-effective interventions to promote healthier diets and save lives in India.
Learn more about how Resolve to Save Lives is working to end preventable deaths from cardiovascular disease in India.
A qualitative study conducted by Resolve to Save Lives determined this poster to be the most impactful for encouraging patients to take their blood pressure medications daily. Forty patients from five different places said they prefer this poster because it shows someone actually taking their medication, which made clear what they needed to do.
Sodium reduction is the single most important dietary intervention for improving heart health and saving lives. Learn more in this resource developed by Resolve to Save Lives.
A six-step guide developed by Resolve to Save Lives that governments can follow to help reduce sodium consumption at the national level.
Fact sheet from Resolve to Save Lives making the case for trans fat regulation in low-burden settings
Fact sheet highlighting the addition of low-sodium salt to one’s diet to reduce blood pressure and associated risk of heart attack or stroke.
Position paper from GHAI, Resolve to Save Lives and other partners presenting best practices for defining, selecting and using effective NPMs.
Includes resources to support transitioning to healthier school canteens for school leaders, canteen managers, parents, and communities.
Best practice guidelines for health facilities to use for cafes/cafeterias, vending machines, convenience stores/newsagents, retail premises, and catering.
Standards for food and drinks available to staff, volunteers, and visitors for ACT Health premises; links to Healthy Food and Drink Choices and Vending Machine Management Policies.
Resources to assist schools develop healthy canteens. The website includes links to the policy, evaluating changes, food planners, and educational materials.
Describes healthy food guidelines and implementation resources for hospital food venues, including patient menus, cafeterias, coffee carts, kiosks, vending and gift shops.
Includes links to vending machine data collection tools and checklist for meetings and catered meals.
Model bill to expand healthy choices for government employees and in government institutions.
Synthesis of evidence and consensus conference to inform further policy action on healthy food procurement in Canada.
Describes school feeding programs in Brazil. Scientific article on school nutrition programs: Sidaner E, Balaban D, et al. The Brazilian school feeding programme: an example of an integrated programme in support of food and nutrition security. Pub Health Nutr. 2013;16(6):989-94.
Reviews the impact of the national law banning sales of competitive food and beverages in schools, based on Chile’s Law of Food Labeling and Advertising. Results show that availability of foods exceeding cutoffs decreased from 90.4% in 2014 to 15.0% in 2016 after policy implementation.
Guide for administrators of school stores and cafeterias to implement the criteria laid out in the national policy for schools. View the technical standards, Implementation Guide (all in Spanish) and summary of the policy on GINA (English).
Describes three methods of evaluating the implementation of dietary guidelines in schools in Slovenia: (i) a cross-sectional survey, (ii) an indicator-based evaluation of menu quality; and (iii) a five day weighted food record of school lunches (output evaluation). The multi-level evaluation suggests that some differences in implementation are attributed to school characteristics; system changes may improve implementation.
Resources include a description of nutrition principles of healthier catering and a toolkit for serving older people in residential care
Guidelines to help workplaces, hospitals and health services, parks, and sporting centers provide healthy foods and drinks.
Standards for foods and beverages served and sold in Malaysian schools. News article on implementation of nutrition standards: Rajaendram R. Ensuring children chomp on healthy treats. The Star Malaysia. 2018 Jan 21. Education.
India’s regulation including restrictions on the advertising, marketing, or selling of food products high in saturated fat or trans-fat or added sugar or sodium on school campuses or to school children in an area within fifty meters from the school gate in any direction.
Describes program criteria and support available for schools.
Website describes Initiative, which links school feeding programs with local smallholder farms to provide food for schoolchildren.
Review of current food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG), assessing the similarities and differences in key elements across countries
Key findings from WHO’s first-ever Global Hypertension Report, which shows that the number of people with hypertension has doubled since 1990, from 650 million to 1.3 billion, and the economic benefits of hypertension treatment outweigh costs by 18 to one.
Study estimating time spent by staff nurses on hypertension and other NCD activities in primary care facilities and time savings from the Simple app
Implementer report on the Simple mobile app from BMJ Health & Care Informatics
Checklist to determine if an existing or proposed regulation includes the key provisions necessary to effectively eliminate trans fat
Annual REPLACE progress report – 2022
Annual REPLACE progress report 2021
Annual REPLACE progress report 2020
WHO laboratory protocol
This report by GHAI’s Food Policy program reveals how the ultra-processed food industry has aggressively fought against front-of-package labels globally.
Case study on the development and implementation of a healthy public food procurement policy
Treatment protocol developed by LINKS Grantee, Makarere University Joint AIDS Program
From WHO/PAHO Regional Expert Group for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention through Population-wide Dietary Salt Reduction
Sample treatment protocol used by RTSL partners in Fujian, China
Summary of case study on the implementation and enforcement of Saudi Arabia’s trans fat elimination policy
Summary of case study on the implementation and enforcement of Denmark’s trans fat elimination policy
Summary of case study on the implementation and enforcement of the EU’s trans fat elimination policy
Summary of case study on the implementation and enforcement of Thailand’s trans fat elimination policy
Summary of case study on the implementation and enforcement of Chile’s trans fat elimination policy
Summary of case study on the implementation and enforcement of Singapore’s trans fat elimination policy
Executive summary of Resolve to Save Lives’ toolkit to help HIV control programs incorporate a patient-centered approach to hypertension care
Resource on the benefits of healthy public food procurement and service policies.
Cardiovascular Health
Hypertension Control
Sodium Reduction
Trans Fat Elimination
Cardiovascular Health Resource Library
Find guidance, case studies, advocacy tools and more for large-scale heart health programs