Heart attacks: ‘Diabetes, hypertension among major factors’

273 patients operated upon from 2008 to 2012 tested positive.

LAHORE: Diabetes, smoking, hypertension and high cholesterol levels have a strong correlation with heart attacks, according to a study of patients visiting Jinnah Hospital’s Cardiac Surgery Department from 2008 to 2012. 

Cardiac Surgery Department head Prof Dr Tayyab Pasha told the APP on Sunday these factors were found in an overwhelming majority of the 608 patients who visited the facility from February 2008 to January 2012.

He said surgeries were performed on 273 patients including 72 women during the period. He said all of these patients were smokers. They also tested positive for diabetes, hypertension and high levels of cholesterol.

About age-groups, he said most patients between five and 20 years of age were born with heart-related complications, majority of those in 20-to-60-year bracket had valve complications.

Those over 80 years old mostly required by-pass surgeries.

Prof Dr Pasha said heart ailments could easily be avoided by taking a balanced diet and daily exercise.

He said Allama Iqbal Medical College principal Prof Dr Javed Akram had requested the government to provide funds for expansion of the department to accommodate more patients. The department can currently treat 13 patients at a time.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2012.