Looming threat of India becoming heart failure capital of world: Doctors
Chennai: Four to five million of the 20 million deaths from heart failure are reported in India alone, causing doctors to fear that India may soon become the heart failure capital of the world. 54 percent of deaths in Chennai are attributed to heart attacks and other cardiac-related ailments. Doctors are therefore desperate to find a solution to bring down the burden.
With the development of treatment techniques, surgical devices, drugs and effective cardiac transplantation methods, the scenario in dealing with patients has been changing. “Treatment of heart diseases is a long journey that requires a team. It is no more the job of a cardiologist alone. It requires efforts from both medical professionals like cardiologists, nephrologists and endocrinologists, as well as from allied healthcare professionals like nurses, perfusionists and the like,” said Dr Sunder. T, senior cardiothoracic and heart-lung transplant surgeon, Apollo Hospitals.
As a failing heart affects all organs — notably the lungs, kidneys and the liver — the need for an interdisciplinary approach is essential, the doctors said. With the need to create awareness on the importance of this form of treatment, the Indian Heart Failure Association, along with Apollo Hospitals, is organising the third annual conference on heart failure titled ‘Heart Failure 360 degrees’.
The two-day conference, expected to begin on Saturday, will aim at not only creating awareness, but also educating other doctors of the right form of treatment. It also aims at discussing cost containment of treatment, with-out compromising on the safety of the patients and the quality of treatment.
“The fact that India is expected to see a tsunami of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) soon is very scary. It is essential that patients present themselves early in order to prevent heart failure. With the disease affecting many from rural areas as well, the need to bring down the cost is essential,” said Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, Dr Prathap C. Reddy.
