Dr. Benard Shehu, MD | Cardiologist
Cardiologist Profile
Cardiologist • Medical Contributor
Dr. Benard Shehu contributes cardiovascular expertise to Beating Diabetes, with a focus on the heart and vascular conditions that commonly intersect with diabetes, including high blood pressure, cholesterol disorders, circulation problems, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and overall cardiovascular risk.
Professional Overview
Dr. Benard Shehu is a cardiologist in Tirana, Albania. His official profile at the University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa” (QSUT) identifies him as a cardiologist, and his clinical profile at Tirana Polyclinic describes his work in cardiology consultations and cardiovascular assessment, including echocardiography when clinically indicated.
His professional profile on iCliniq lists more than 19 years of medical experience and describes clinical expertise involving hypertension, arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, and heart failure. His work emphasizes prevention, early identification of cardiovascular disease, evidence-based assessment, and long-term heart health.
At Beating Diabetes, Dr. Shehu contributes specialist perspective where diabetes overlaps with cardiovascular disease. This is especially important because diabetes management involves more than glucose alone: blood pressure, lipids, smoking, kidney disease, body weight, physical activity, and established cardiovascular disease all influence long-term risk.
Role at Beating Diabetes
As a cardiology medical contributor, Dr. Shehu supports cardiovascular content and clinical context across topics where diabetes affects the heart and blood vessels.
- Cardiovascular risk in people living with diabetes
- High blood pressure and diabetes
- Cholesterol, triglycerides, and dyslipidemia
- Coronary artery disease and prevention of cardiovascular events
- Heart failure and diabetes
- Circulation and vascular complications
- Palpitations, arrhythmia-related concerns, and cardiovascular symptoms
- Cardiometabolic risk assessment
- Interpretation of cardiovascular warning signs and when urgent assessment is appropriate
His contribution complements the primary-care perspective of Dr. Albana Greca and the endocrinology expertise of Dr. Ruden Cakoni.
Clinical Areas of Focus
- Clinical cardiology
- Hypertension
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart failure
- Arrhythmias and palpitations
- Cardiovascular prevention
- Echocardiography
- Cardiovascular risk assessment
- Cardio-oncology and treatment-related cardiotoxicity
- Cardiometabolic conditions involving diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia
Education and Clinical Background
Medical Degree
Completed MBBS medical education at the University of Tirana, according to his professional medical profile.
Postgraduate Medical Training
Completed an MS at the University of Tirana. His subsequent clinical work has focused on cardiology.
University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa”
Dr. Shehu is professionally associated with the Cardiology Service at the University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa” in Tirana. The hospital’s official physician profile lists his specialty as cardiology.
Tirana Polyclinic
Dr. Shehu also provides cardiology consultations at Tirana Polyclinic, including cardiovascular assessment and echocardiography when clinically indicated.
Why Cardiovascular Expertise Matters in Diabetes
People living with diabetes often need cardiovascular risk assessed alongside glucose control. Blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, kidney health, smoking, physical activity, obesity, and existing heart or vascular disease can materially change treatment priorities.
For this reason, cardiovascular content on Beating Diabetes does not treat glucose as an isolated number. Pages dealing with complications, medications, blood pressure, cholesterol, circulation, chest symptoms, heart failure, or cardiovascular prevention may benefit from cardiology input.
Readers can also review our broader guides to diabetes complications and the long-term health effects of diabetes.
Clinical Research and Academic Activity
Dr. Shehu’s recent academic work includes cardiovascular research focused on cardiotoxicity, cardiovascular risk assessment, and the interaction between systemic disease and heart health.
Cardio-Oncology Research
In 2026, Dr. Shehu was listed as an author of a systematic review and meta-analysis examining pharmacologic cardioprotection in patients receiving breast-cancer therapy. The publication also incorporated real-world Albanian data on treatment-related cardiac dysfunction.
Predictors of Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiotoxicity
A 2025 study co-authored by Dr. Shehu examined clinical and echocardiographic predictors of cardiotoxicity in breast-cancer patients, including the value of global longitudinal strain for cardiovascular risk assessment.
European Society of Cardiology Presentation
Dr. Shehu was listed by ESC 365 as a speaker from University Hospital Center Mother Teresa for a 2026 cardio-oncology presentation on clinical phenotypes of cardiotoxicity in breast-cancer patients receiving contemporary cancer therapy.
Professional Profiles and Verification
The following independent and institutional sources provide additional information about Dr. Shehu’s specialty, clinical work, education, and research activity:
- University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa” (QSUT) — official institutional physician profile identifying his specialty as cardiology.
- Tirana Polyclinic — cardiology profile describing consultations, cardiovascular assessment, and echocardiography.
- iCliniq — professional medical profile with education, experience, and cardiology focus.
- ORCID — researcher identifier associated with his recent publications.
- ESC 365 — European Society of Cardiology presentation record.
Editorial and Medical Standards
Dr. Shehu’s role on Beating Diabetes is to strengthen cardiovascular context where specialist cardiology expertise is relevant. Content is developed for patient education, with attention to evidence, clinical safety, and the distinction between general information and individualized medical care.
Cardiovascular symptoms can sometimes require urgent assessment. Severe or persistent chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, signs of stroke, or other potentially life-threatening symptoms should not be managed through online information alone.
Medical education notice: Information on Beating Diabetes is intended for general education. It does not replace an examination, diagnosis, prescription, or individualized treatment plan from your own cardiologist, family physician, endocrinologist, or another qualified healthcare professional.
Profile last reviewed: August 2026