An analysis of 2,000 patients at Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences – all below 40 years of age – revealed that over 40% of the cases did not face any conventional risk factors or family history. Of the remaining, while 20% had a strong family history and came with risks, the rest only showed conventional risk factors.
This analysis indicated that the incidence of heart disease is increasing among the young, even among those who do not face any risks. The death of Deputy Mayor Ramila Umashankar at 44, following a cardiac arrest on Friday, also underlines this trend.
The institute that has been observing this trend for the last few years has taken up a study titled ‘Premature coronary artery disease – heart attacks in the young’ in association with St. John’s Research Institute (SJRI) and the Centre for Human Genetics (CHG).
“A genetic analysis is being done to study whether there are any genetic mutations that are increasing the risk of heart attacks. The results of this study should be available in the next six months,” C.N. Manjunath, Institute director told The Hindu on Friday.
Dr. Manjunath said some people have an excessive tendency of clot formation in their bodies. “We are seeing at least six people below 35 years old in a year with problems related to clot formation,” he said.
“In those with no conventional risk factors, heart attack cannot be predicted as there is a sudden rupture of plaque in the arteries. There is no indication even a minute before the attack. It is unfortunate that only a lucky few (around 10%) make it to the hospital and survive,” he added.
“The plaque is formed when too much LDL cholesterol (low density lipoproteins known as bad cholesterol) circulate in the blood. It can slowly build up on the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Together with platelets and other substances, a thick plaque or deposit may be formed, which narrows the arteries and makes them less flexible. When the plaque ruptures in a narrowed artery, there is release of platelets that promote clotting of blood (in the artery) leading to a heart attack,” Dr. Manjunath explained.
Case studies
When a 25-year-old daily wager woman complained of chest pain, sweating and giddiness last month and was diagnosed with heart attack, doctors were surprised that she did not exhibit any conventional risk factors.
Prior to this, the doctors had seen a 33-year-old housewife with no risk factors with a similar problem.
Last week, a 43-year-old cardiologist working at the institute collapsed in his home after returning from the gym. He breathed his last even before he could be taken to the hospital.
Air pollution
Apart from conventional risk factors such as diabetes, smoking, sedentary lifestyles, stress and family history, increasing air pollution is turning out to be a new risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
C.N. Manjunath, director, Jayadeva Institute, said inhaling polluted air is nothing but urban smoking, and is as bad as smoking. The incidence of heart attacks is three to five times more in smokers than in non-smokers, he said. An increasing number of autorickshaw drivers and traffic policemen were now being treated at the hospital. “We are analysing the effects of air pollution on 1,000 autorickshaw drivers and traffic policemen,” he said”
