Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital Joins CCN Northwest Network for Rare Disease Care

Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital Joins CCN Northwest Network for Rare Disease Care

Recently, at the cardiomyopathy session ceremony of the 2026 Chang'an Cardiovascular Conference, the Department of Geriatrics of Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital was officially accredited as a member unit of the Northwest Collaborative Network of the China Cardiomyopathy Collaborative Network (CCN). This recognition by a national‑level platform serves as authoritative validation of our hospital's comprehensive strength in the diagnosis and treatment of rare cardiovascular diseases such as cardiomyopathy.

As the only municipal‑level center of the National Cardiovascular Center Cardiomyopathy Alliance in Wuwei City, our hospital has consistently been at the forefront of the province in the diagnosis and treatment of rare cardiovascular diseases, particularly Fabry disease.

On-site blood collection and screening in Songshan Town, Tianzhu County

In recent years, the department has focused on the diagnostic and treatment challenges of rare cardiomyopathies, particularly Fabry disease, and has continuously carried out high‑risk population screening. To date, over 400 high‑risk patients have been screened, and 15 patients have been successfully diagnosed with Fabry disease, ranking the hospital second among all hospitals in Gansu Province in terms of confirmed cases. This has provided crucial support for the early detection and standardized treatment of Fabry disease in the province.

Blood collection for patients at Gulang County Health Center

Through long‑term clinical practice, under the leadership of the Department of Geriatrics and within a multidisciplinary collaboration model involving cardiology, neurology, nephrology, ultrasound, and electrocardiography, the hospital has developed a unique set of rare cardiomyopathy screening MDT workflows and diagnostic/treatment experience. A full‑cycle management system has been established, covering high‑risk population identification, precise diagnosis, individualized treatment, and long‑term follow‑up. Notably, the hospital has accumulated extensive experience in the multidisciplinary management and comorbidity management of elderly patients with Fabry disease, effectively improving patient outcomes and filling some of the gaps in standardized diagnosis and treatment of rare cardiomyopathies in the region.

Joining the CCN Northwest Collaborative Network has established an academic and clinical platform for our hospital to engage in in‑depth collaboration with leading national centers. In the future, leveraging the resources of the collaborative network, the department will continue to deepen the construction of a rare disease diagnosis and treatment system, further optimize clinical pathways for elderly patients with cardiomyopathy, and provide higher‑quality, more standardized medical services for patients with rare diseases in the Hexi region and throughout the province, consistently playing a leading role in the region.

If you have the following symptoms or high-risk factors, please contact us for a free screening.

1. Burning pain in the extremities, paroxysmal neuropathic pain, worsened by cold exposure
2. Generalized hypohidrosis or anhidrosis, heat intolerance with tendency to develop fever
3. Angiokeratomas around the umbilicus, thighs, and buttocks
4. Corneal verticillata, tinnitus, and hearing loss
5. Unexplained nocturia, proteinuria, and kidney injury
6. Left ventricular hypertrophy and arrhythmias (e.g., atrial fibrillation, short PR interval on ECG, atrioventricular block, patients with pacemaker implantation) starting at a young age
7. Unexplained stroke in young‑ to middle‑aged adults, early‑onset cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease
8. Recurrent abdominal pain and diarrhea, developmental delay

High-risk groups

- Individuals with unexplained multisystem involvement as described above

- Those with a family history of kidney disease, cardiomyopathy, or premature death

- Female patients with subtle, nonspecific symptoms, and family members who are carriers

Department Introduction

Department of Geriatrics, Gansu Wuwei Cancer Hospital

• March 2023: Designated as a "Municipal Center of the Cardiomyopathy Specialty Alliance" by the National Cardiovascular Center.
• Established "Gansu Provincial Close Specialty Alliance for Pulmonary Circulation and Right Heart Disease" and the "Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Geriatric Medicine Medical Consortium" with Gansu Provincial Hospital.
• 2024: Awarded "Geriatric Nutrition Demonstration Ward" by the Gansu Provincial Health Commission; appointed as a "Fabry Disease High‑Risk Patient Collaboration Unit" by the China Red Cross Foundation.
• 2025: Became the "Lead Hospital for the Hypertension达标 Center."
• 2026: Designated as the "Wuwei City Hospice Care Quality Control Center" by the Wuwei Municipal Health Commission – currently the only public hospital hospice care center in the city.

Staffing:
1 Associate Chief Physician, 4 Attending Physicians, 1 Rehabilitation Therapist, and 6 Nursing Staff.
Specialties cover cardiology, respiratory medicine, gastroenterology, neurology, nephrology, endocrinology, and medical oncology – providing comprehensive, multidisciplinary, "one‑stop" treatment for geriatric multimorbidity (e.g., coronary heart disease, heart failure, hypertension, diabetes), as well as management of geriatric syndromes and common age‑related issues such as sleep disorders, dizziness, constipation, frequent urination, and poor appetite. Based on each elderly patient's specific condition, the department performs comprehensive assessments including nutritional risk screening, comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), and frailty evaluation. The department also offers acupuncture, cupping, and physical therapy.

The Geriatrics Department focuses not only on improving the quality of life of elderly patients but also on respecting their autonomy. It implements professional chronic disease management, avoids duplicate medications and redundant tests, and provides high‑quality geriatric nursing services, making elderly patients feel as comfortable and warm as at home.

Geriatrics Department Locations:

• Outpatient: Central Campus – Room 325; Heavy Ion Campus – Clinic 206A
• Inpatient: Heavy Ion Campus, Building 9, First Floor

Written by: Wu Chengbin

First review: Yang Yang

Second review: Guo Yishan

Third review: Cai Qinghua

Wuwei Cancer Hospital of Gansu Province (Wuwei Institute of Medical Sciences)

（甘）医广【2025】第11-14-387号