Around 39,000 deaths occur in the State every year due to Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), mainly heart attacks, according to cardiologists at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.
“This means that the actual incidence of heart attacks annually in the State will be several fold,” said B. Krishnakumar, cardiologist at the medical college hospital.
To create awareness and to discuss latest treatment modalities in managing acute cardiac events such as heart attacks and heart failure, the department of Cardiology of the MCH is organising a continuing medical education (CME) programme on Acute Cardiac Care on Sunday, September 16.
Even though the incidence of ACS is high, the percentage of people who manage to reach a hospital, where there are facilities for interventions like clot-busting therapy (thrombolysis) or angioplasty, in the golden hour is quite low.
“There is very little awareness among the public that they have to reach a proper health facility as early as possible, and the first medical contact itself is quite delayed. Thrombolysis is as good as angioplasty if done within the golden hour,” Dr. Krishnakumar, who is organising the programme, said.
Over 200 delegates from within the State and Tamil Nadu will discuss the latest interventions and guidelines in managing events such as pulmonary embolism, viral myocarditis and other acute cardiac emergencies.
