Early onset of cardiac issues a pointer to lifestyle changes, lack of physical activity: Ravindranath
He was speaking at an event organised by the Ursu Jagrathi Academy Charitable Trust in Mysuru on Sunday, marking Doctors' Day.
Dr. Ravindranath said nearly 60 to 70% of deaths are due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), of which heart-related ailments account for nearly 25%.
He pointed out that these are largely the result of lifestyle changes — sedentary habits, poor dietary choices, increased intake of red meat, processed and junk food, and reduced physical activity, even among children, said Dr. Ravindranath.
He said that in contrast to earlier generations who lived well into their 80s, today's generation is battling obesity, hypertension, and diabetes at much younger ages. Many people are unaware they have high blood pressure or sugar, and these are silent killers, he cautioned and urged those in the age group of 30 to 40 to undergo medical check-ups periodically.
Dr. Ravindranath expressed concern over rising substance abuse, including smoking and ganja consumption, as well as increasing psychological stress and environmental pollution, all of which are taking a toll on public health.
On the challenges faced by the medical community, he expressed concern over attack on the medical fraternity. 'Doctors dedicate their prime years to study and service, often at the cost of family time. Society places immense trust in doctors, but we are sometimes unable to save lives when patients are brought in critical condition. This has led to unfortunate instances of violence against doctors and hospitals, which should stop,' he said.
While noting that laws have been enacted to protect medical professionals from such assaults, he also flagged shortage of personnel and inadequate infrastructure in rural areas as pressing concerns. 'Despite constraints, many doctors continue to serve in rural and taluk-level hospitals,' he said.
Six doctors were felicitated on the occasion for their outstanding service in the medical field and presented with 'Vaidyashree' awards. They are Jayaprakash Narayan of Bengaluru, and five others from Mysuru, Rajashekar, Rajeshwari, S. Kumar Raj Urs, Kavitawadi, and P. Shastar.
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The Hindu
2 days ago
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Jayadeva's Premature Coronary Artery Disease registry shows over 24% of patients aged below 40 are drivers
The vulnerability of autorickshaw and cab drivers to cardiovascular diseases is not a new trend observed in the sudden heart attack deaths sample in Hassan district, say doctors. Director of State-run Sri Jaydeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, K.S. Ravindranath, who headed the expert committee that investigated the perceived surge in sudden heart attack deaths in Hassan district, said it was not surprising to find six (25%) of the 24 deceased to be auto and cab drivers in the sample and it had been flagged by earlier studies too. He pointed out that data from the Premature Coronary Artery Disease (PCAD) registry maintained at Jayadeva since 2017 shows that 24.25% (975) of 4,020 young heart attack patients (aged below 40) screened so far are drivers with multiple risk factors. While 72.9% of these 975 drivers are smokers, 7.10% have diabetes, 8.3% have hypertension, 10.5% have obesity and 13.7% have a family history of cardiovascular diseases, data shows. Dr. Ravindranath, who pointed out that autorickshaw and cab drivers are emerging as a highly vulnerable group for cardiovascular diseases, attributed the alarming trend to a combination of occupational stress and lifestyle risk factors. 'While prolonged exposure to air and noise pollution and driving through traffic gridlocks is itself stressful, long working hours and prolonged sitting, irregular food habits, often reliant on roadside, processed foods, erratic sleeping pattern and high rates of smoking and alcohol use are adding to the problem,' Dr. Ravindranath told The Hindu on Friday. Among bus drivers He said similar trends were observed among drivers at Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), who are undergoing screening at the institute in batches since 2022. An analysis of 7,635 employees, majority of whom are drivers aged 45-60 years, evaluated at the institute since August 10, 2022, has revealed that over 40% of them were vulnerable to cardiovascular diseases. Besides, around 4% of them had an established heart disease, the doctor said. 'Our data shows that 27% of the drivers screened had diabetes, 25% hypertension, 62% obesity and around 1% had a family history. While 22% were smokers, 25% consumed alcohol,' he said. Similarly, around 10,000 KSRTC employees have been screened at the institute in the last three years. 'Of these, about 50% are drivers, and the percentage of risk factors is almost the same as BMTC drivers. However, smoking habits are comparatively less common among KSRTC drivers compared to BMTC drivers, as the former drive long-distance trips,' Dr. Ravindranath said. High risk Former Jayadeva director and Bengaluru Rural MP C.N. Manjunath, during whose tenure BMTC had signed an agreement with the cardiac institute for screening its employees, said that with nearly 40% of them having diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, the risk of them developing cardiovascular diseases in the future is high. 'Mandatory periodic and annual health checks are essential for these employees to ensure early intervention. Proper and early risk factor and lifestyle management is the key to prevent cardiovascular problems,' the doctor said. 'Most of the employees had not gotten themselves tested before and were surprised by the diagnosis of diabetes and high blood pressure. Due to the nature of their work, their stress levels are high. They have no time to exercise, and their eating habits are erratic due to continuous driving, overwork, and night duties. Most of all, their exposure to pollution throughout their work (both from the engine and atmosphere) is very risky,' he explained. Need for screening Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said health screenings for auto and cab drivers will be taken up. 'We will discuss this alarming trend with the drivers' association and start screening them for cardiovascular diseases,' he said.
News18
3 days ago
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Hassan Deaths: Heart Attacks Increased By 4% In Post-COVID Era, Says Karnataka Health Minister
Dinesh Gundu Rao said more people were coming to hospitals for check-ups. At Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, patient numbers have surged by 20–25 per cent. The recent spike in heart attack-related deaths in Karnataka's Hassan district has sent shockwaves across the country. Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has told News18 that cases of heart-attacks have gone up by about 4 per cent on average in the post-Covid era as compared to the pre-Covid era. He also pointed out how more people were coming to hospitals for heart-related check-ups. 'People coming in large numbers to check is a good sign. They are worried and want to lay their doubts to rest. If they do come, we are able to identify issues they didn't know they had, and treat them early. So this increase in the number of people coming to hospitals and checking themselves is a good sign," he added. At the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, patient numbers have surged by 20–25 per cent. The main centre in Bengaluru, which used to see 1,200–1,300 patients a day, is now handling nearly 1,800. 'In the Mysuru branch, the average used to be 700–800, but it has now reached 1,000. Similarly, in Kalaburagi, the number has gone up from 400 to 600. So across branches, there's a noticeable 20–25 per cent rise in patients visiting the hospital," said Jayadeva director Dr Ravindranath. The panic stems from a disturbing trend in Hassan, where 22 heart-related deaths were reported over just 40 days — many of them in people under the age of 45. According to reports, five of the deceased were between 19 and 25, and eight were aged 25 to 45. Only a few were above 60. 'Heart attacks are occurring in India nearly a decade earlier compared to the West," said Dr Ravindranath in an interview to News18. 'At a large facility like Jayadeva, we see around 200 to 250 patients in the emergency department every day. Of these, about 30 per cent with heart attacks — and 20 per cent of those are under the age of 25. So we are seeing a clear rise in young patients suffering from heart attacks." Expert Panel Studies Hassan Deaths The state health department had formed an expert panel led by Dr Ravindranath to study the pattern of deaths in Hassan and examine whether external triggers — including COVID-19 or vaccination — could be involved. The committee analysed sudden cardiac arrests, strokes, and neurological events. 'There could be multiple causes — like heart hypertrophy, reduced heart function, or dilatation of the heart. It's not always related to the blood vessels," Dr Ravindranath said. 'We need to analyse this thoroughly — including whether these incidents are clustered around particular months. Sometimes media reports may label a death as a heart attack without proper confirmation. So unless we conduct a detailed, scientific examination of these cases, we won't get an accurate picture. That is exactly what we are trying to do now." Children are also becoming part of this trend, with rare but alarming cases of cardiac-related deaths reported in those under 20. 'Though rare, we are now seeing heart attacks in children as well. That's why some are examining whether there's any link between vaccination and these incidents," said Dr Ravindranath. What Are The Reasons? 'Many studies have already been done on this, and while more data and advanced testing may be needed — like myocardial biopsy or histochemical analysis — current evidence shows no link between vaccines and these deaths." He pointed instead to other likely causes: 'In those under 20, it's rarely due to blockages. It's more likely due to conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, Brugada syndrome, or Long QT syndrome — all of which can cause sudden cardiac death." Heart attacks in this age group, he said, usually occur only in rare cases such as congenital coronary artery anomalies or genetic disorders like familial hypercholesterolemia, where LDL levels can spike dangerously high. The increase in heart-related visits has also provided doctors a clearer picture of current health trends. 'Most of these cases are not cardiac, but people want to be sure," said Dr Ravindranath. The Jayadeva team has observed smoking as the most common risk factor among younger patients. 'We're currently conducting a premature coronary artery disease registry. Among patients under 40, over 50 per cent had a history of smoking. Around 15–20 per cent had hypertension or diabetes, 25 per cent had cholesterol issues, and obesity — even in children — is rising due to fast food and excessive screen time," he said. Preliminary analysis also points to a post-COVID rise in common risk factors. 'Hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol issues, and obesity have all increased," Dr Ravindranath said. About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18's digital platform. She has previously worked with More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Hassan heart attacks karnataka view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- The Hindu
Expert committee to submit report on Hassan heart attack cases today
The expert committee headed by K.S. Ravindranath, director of Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research that was also entrusted with the task of studying the reported rise in sudden heart attack deaths in Hassan district is all set to submit its report to the Health Minister on Thursday, July 10. Amid mounting public anxiety over the rising trend of sudden cardiovascular events (heart attack, sudden cardiac death) post-COVID-19 pandemic, the Karnataka government had in February this year set up an expert committee headed by Dr. Ravindranath to evaluate the temporal and potential causal links with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or COVID-19 vaccination. The committee has not found any association between premature cardiovascular disease and a prior history of COVID-19 infection or COVID vaccination. With regard to the reported deaths in Hassan district, the same committee, comprising senior cardiologists, public health experts, epidemiologists and officials from Hassan district, was given ten days to investigate and submit a report. Dr. Ravindranath told The Hindu that the committee has completed its field visits, data collection and verbal autopsies of the families over the past nine days. 'We are looking at outlining the possible causes behind the reported rise in the deaths - including lifestyle factors, post-COVID health issues, access to timely medical care, and environmental or occupational risks. So far, we have not found any conclusive results that point towards a single cause,' he said. 'We have collected and studied the treatment details including available post-mortem reports of the deceased. Out of the 22 deceased during May-June in the district, only eight have undergone post-mortem. Hence, we are depending on verbal autopsies,' he added.
