50% increase in heart disease patients at PGI

CHANDIGARH: Though the PGI has been able to reduce heart disease mortality rate to minimum doctors are surprised over 50 per cent increase in the number of heartrelated patients in just one year

Updated At : 07:52 AM Sep 29, 2018 IST

Dr Yash Paul Sharma, Head, Department of Cardiology, PGI

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 28

Though the PGI has been able to reduce heart disease mortality rate to minimum, doctors are surprised over 50 per cent increase in the number of heart-related patients in just one year.

As per the PGI statistics, there were 3,500 cardiovascular patients in 2015. The figure rose to 3,600 in 2016 and 5,400 in 2017, which is a whopping 50 per cent increase.

Doctors attributed the increased inflow of patients to rising population, awareness among people, cost-effective treatment and affordability. While prosperity has increased, treatment cost has reduced.

“It is also a factor that we do not deny treatment to patients. Additionally, the treatment cost has come down majorly. A stent, which used to cost Rs 1 lakh some years ago, is now available in between Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000,” said Dr Yash Paul Sharma, Head, Department of Cardiology, PGI.

He further said, “Most of the cases are of heart failure and heart attack. There is a rising trend of such cases in the country. We get heart attacks one or two decades early than developed counties. In India, heart diseases are occurring at relatively young age of 45-55 years, while in developed countries, they occur in around 70-80 years.”

Too much stress, uncontrolled blood sugar levels, no dietary awareness, no physical activity, no habit of eating fruits and vegetables and long working week days are among the reasons for heart diseases in India. The PGI daily gets 15 to 20 OPD and emergency cases. The premier institute has a total of 250 beds for heart patients.

Mortality rate reduces

Despite the increasing heart-related patients, the PGI’s cardiology department was able to reduce the overall mortality rate from 10.2 per cent in 2015 to 9.7 per cent in 2016 to 8.2 per cent in 2017.

Elaborating on how it became a reality, Dr Yash, said, “We have a patient-centric approach. PGI has its iron theory patent. Doctors across the world have appreciated it and they are trying to learn it. Besides, after the coming of Amrit (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment) outlets, we have balloons, stunts and drugs readily available at cost-effective prices.”

‘1 in 5 cardiovascular deaths due to air pollution’

This year’s theme is “My heart, your heart.”
The global campaign emphasises on looking after professional cardiology’s own hearts and the hearts of patients.
The day is celebrated for raising awareness about cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke.
As per a study, nearly one in five deaths from cardiovascular disease is caused by air pollution in the world.