The 56th annual conference of the Cardiology Society of India is being held in Bangalore from December 2 to 5, 2004.

The four-day event will be held at the Palace Grounds here in the city. The conference is expected to see over 5,000 heart specialists and general practitioners. The event is viewed as the best attended annual conference for doctors. As many as 350 cardiologists are coming from SAARC countries, Middle East, UAS, UK, Australia, Brazil and European countries.

The conference has four main themes - 'Lower is better' which is relevant to cholesterol and blood pressure. 'Bigger is better' for bigger blood vessels would keep the heart healthy, 'Heart without Holes' and 'Prevention to Intervention', informed CN Manjunath organising secretary of the conference.

A highlight of the meet is that eight cases of angioplasty and closure of heart holes will be transmitted live from Trinity Heart Hospital, Wockhardt Hospital and Heart Foundation and MS Ramaiah hospital in Bangalore.

The conference will be inaugurated by Karnataka Chief Minister Dharma Singh while former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda will be the guest of honour.