About coronary artery disease
Coronary artery disease is narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart muscle, usually by atherosclerotic plaque. It can cause stable angina, or a heart attack if a plaque ruptures and blocks an artery.
Symptoms
Chest pain or pressure on exertion that eases with rest, shortness of breath and tiredness. Sudden severe chest pain, sweating or breathlessness may be a heart attack: call your local emergency number immediately.
Diagnosis
ECG, echocardiography and stress testing assess the heart. CT coronary angiography or invasive angiography shows the narrowings; pressure-wire (FFR) and intravascular imaging help decide which ones need treatment.
Treatment in China
- Medicines and risk-factor control: blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and smoking.
- Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stents, guided by intravascular ultrasound or FFR, including complex lesions and chronic total occlusions.
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for multivessel or complex disease, including off-pump surgery.
- Heart-team decisions combining cardiologists and cardiac surgeons for complex cases.
Why patients choose China
Fuwai Hospital is China’s National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases and ranks first nationally in cardiovascular medicine and cardiac surgery. At Zhongshan Hospital, academician Ge Junbo is known for work on intravascular ultrasound, new coronary stents and myocardial bridging, and was elected president-elect of the World Heart Federation in 2026.
Top hospitals in China for Cardiovascular medicine
Fudan 2023 reputation score · bars are relative to the leader in this specialty.
- 1 Fuwai Hospital Beijing 10.5
- 2 Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai 9.1
- 3 Beijing Anzhen Hospital Beijing 8.1
- 4 General Hospital of Northern Theater Command Shenyang 5.7
- 5 Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine Hangzhou 5.6
- 6 Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital Guangzhou 3.3
- 7 West China Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu 3.1
- 8 Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University Harbin 2.8
- 9 Ruijin Hospital Shanghai 2.0
- 10 Peking University First Hospital Beijing 1.6
Nominated hospitals (20)
- Qilu Hospital of Shandong UniversityJinan
- Wuhan Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeWuhan
- Chinese PLA General Hospital (301 Hospital)Beijing
- Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical UniversityXi’an
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeWuhan
- Jiangsu Province Hospital (First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University)Nanjing
- First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’an
- First Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyang
- Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha
- Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhan
- First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou
- Peking University Third HospitalBeijing
- Peking University People’s HospitalBeijing
- Nanjing First HospitalNanjing
- First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou
- First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhou
- Southwest Hospital, Army Medical UniversityChongqing
- Peking Union Medical College HospitalBeijing
- First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin
- Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical UniversityChongqing
Hospitals to consider
Fuwai Hospital
- Fudan 2023
- #1 Cardiac surgery
- #1 Cardiovascular medicine
Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University
- Fudan 2023
- #2 Cardiovascular medicine
- #2 General surgery
West China Hospital, Sichuan University
- Fudan 2023
- #1 Rehabilitation medicine
- #2 Urology
Beijing Anzhen Hospital
- Fudan 2023
- #2 Cardiac surgery
- #3 Cardiovascular medicine
Specialists
- Coronary artery disease
- Intravascular ultrasound
- Coronary stent development and in-stent restenosis
- Coronary artery surgery
- Heart valve surgery
- Congenital heart surgery
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose stenting or bypass surgery?
It depends on how many arteries are affected, where the narrowings are, heart function and other conditions such as diabetes. For complex cases, a heart team of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons decides together. A second opinion can help if you are unsure.
What records do Chinese cardiologists need?
A recent ECG and echocardiogram, coronary angiography or CT angiography (images and report), a list of your medicines and information about other conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease.
Can I fly soon after a stent?
Many patients can fly within days of an uncomplicated elective stent, but timing depends on your case. Your cardiologist will advise before you travel home.