Dr Chan Wan Xian, Cardiologist and Heart Failure Specialist, Asian Heart and Vascular Centre Singapore

Dr Chan Wan Xian

MBBS, MRCP (UK)

Cardiologist | Heart Failure Intensivist | Women's Heart Health Specialist | Echocardiologist

Languages: English, Mandarin, Hokkien

About Dr Chan Wan Xian

Dr Chan Wan Xian is a heart failure specialist with expertise in advanced heart failure, mechanical heart support (ventricular assist devices), cardiomyopathies, valvular heart diseases, and women's cardiovascular health including heart disease in pregnancy. She was formerly Senior Consultant and Co-Director of the Women's Heart Health Services at the National University Heart Centre Singapore (NUHCS), and is currently Clinical Assistant Professor at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.

She has performed over 20,000 transthoracic echocardiography scans across her career and reports approximately 1,500 echocardiography scans annually.

Areas of Clinical Focus

  • Advanced heart failure and mechanical heart support (ventricular assist devices)
  • Cardiomyopathies
  • Valvular heart diseases
  • Women's cardiovascular health, including heart disease in pregnancy
  • Cardiac imaging: echocardiography and nuclear cardiology (cardiac nuclear stress scans / heart perfusion imaging)
  • Management of complex heart failure patients
  • Heart diseases associated with chemotherapy and cancer treatment
  • Heart diseases associated with autoimmune conditions

Training and Career

Medical degreeNational University of Singapore — 2001
MRCP (UK)2006
Advanced Specialist Training in CardiologyNUHCS — 2009
Subspecialty fellowshipToronto University Health Network, Canada — advanced heart failure, cardiac transplantation, cardiomyopathies, and cardiac imaging including nuclear cardiology
Team scholarshipMayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota — Women's Heart Health Services
Team scholarshipOttawa Heart Institute, Canada — Women's Heart Health Services
Former roleSenior Consultant, Cardiology, NUHCS
Former roleCo-Director, Women's Heart Health Services, NUHCS
Academic appointmentClinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS

Recognition & Leadership

  • Former Senior Consultant, Cardiology, NUHCS
  • Co-Director, Women's Heart Health Services, NUHCS
  • Outstanding Collaborating Physician Award 2016, National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore
  • Merit Award, Quality Improvement Project (Carehub pilot project in cardiac patients), NUH 2016
  • Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS

Professional Fellowships and Memberships

  • Member of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom — 2006

Selected Publications

  • Kojodjojo P, Ng CH, Ong KC, Zuzarte-Ng R, Chan WX, et al. Large-bore suction thrombectomy for sub-massive pulmonary embolism during second trimester of pregnancy: a case report. European Heart Journal Case Reports. 2023. [PubMed]
  • Genetic Studies of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Singaporeans Identify Variants in TNNI3 and TNNT2 That Are Common in Chinese Patients. Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine. 2020. [PubMed]
  • Multilayer Myocardial Mechanics in Genotype-Positive Left Ventricular Hypertrophy-Negative Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. The American Journal of Cardiology. 2018. [PubMed]
  • Full publication list on PubMed

Clinical Approach

Dr Chan manages advanced heart failure cases including patients requiring mechanical heart support, and has a dedicated focus on heart diseases in women — including conditions arising in pregnancy, those associated with autoimmune disorders, and cardiovascular complications from chemotherapy and cancer treatment. She led the transitional and home care services for complex heart failure patients at NUHCS and co-directed the Women's Heart Health Services there.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Dr Chan Wan Xian specialise in?

Dr Chan specialises in advanced heart failure, mechanical heart support (ventricular assist devices), cardiomyopathies, and women's cardiovascular health including heart disease in pregnancy. She also performs echocardiography and nuclear cardiology stress scans.

What is a ventricular assist device (VAD)?

A ventricular assist device is a mechanical pump implanted to support the heart in patients with advanced heart failure, when the heart can no longer pump enough blood on its own. It may be used as a bridge to heart transplantation or as a longer-term treatment. Dr Chan Wan Xian has subspecialty training in advanced heart failure and VAD management.

Why is women's heart health different?

Heart disease can present differently in women compared to men, with less typical symptoms and risk factors that carry a proportionally greater impact — such as autoimmune conditions and pregnancy-related cardiac complications. Dr Chan Wan Xian has dedicated subspecialty training from the Mayo Clinic and Ottawa Heart Institute in women's heart health.

What is nuclear cardiology?

Nuclear cardiology (myocardial perfusion imaging) is a type of stress scan that uses a small amount of radioactive tracer to assess blood flow to the heart muscle. It helps detect coronary artery disease and evaluate heart function. Dr Chan Wan Xian performs nuclear cardiology scans at AHVC.

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