Latest news with #Ravindranath
New Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Heart ailments not just occupational, but lifestyle related: Jayadeva director
Dr Ravindranath had headed the state government-appointed committee that investigated the spate of sudden deaths due to suspected heart attacks in Hassan district during May and June this year. 'Fixing working hours is essential so people can invest time in their own health,' he said, adding that environmental triggers like air pollution are now emerging as possible contributors and are under close scientific scrutiny. Citing the InterHeart study, Dr Ravindranath said these included abnormal blood lipids, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, abdominal obesity, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, alcohol use and psychosocial stress. As per the study, of all the nine factors, psychosocial stress emerged as a significant and often underestimated contributor, nearly tripling the risk of heart attacks. The study assessed stress from factors like work, home, financial pressure and major life events, showing that emotional wellbeing plays a major role in heart health. 'While traditional clinical focus was often on smoking and cholesterol, attention is now on emerging lifestyle-related risks like chronic stress and central obesity. Now even air pollution and other components are emerging as risk factors; we are studying the patterns currently,' the director said.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
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
10-07-2025
- Health
- News18
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
09-07-2025
- Health
- 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.
India Today
09-07-2025
- Health
- India Today
How Karnataka plans to get to the heart of cardiac deaths striking the young
A study by a panel of experts constituted by the Karnataka government on sudden cardiac arrest deaths among young adults has recommended a multifaceted strategy of augmented screening, surveillance and awareness campaigns to tackle the growing public health challenge. Among the suggested measures is an autopsy-based reporting and registry for unexplained deaths in this February, the state government had commissioned a report by experts from leading institutions to guide Karnataka's health policy, especially on the rising trend of sudden cardiovascular events after the Covid-19 pandemic and whether Covid vaccines could have any adverse health 12-member panel, headed by Dr K.S. Ravindranath, director of Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in Bengaluru, also carried out a pilot observational study of patients, aged below 45, admitted to the institute between April 1 and May 31, 2025. A total of 251 patients were studied—219 men and 32 women.'There is no single cause behind the observed rise in sudden cardiac deaths. Rather, it appears to be a multifactorial issue, with behavioural, genetic and environmental risks,' the report observed. It did not find any association between premature cardiovascular disease and a prior history of Covid-19 infection or Covid vaccination. 'The report found that Covid vaccines were not a factor,' said health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao at a media conference on July 7, adding that vaccination had, on the contrary, been debate over Covid vaccines has been in the news in the past week after chief minister Siddaramaiah's comment—in the context of 20 deaths in Hassan district alone over the past month—that 'hasty approval and distribution of the Covid vaccine could also be a reason'. The remark had drawn criticism from several quarters, notably biotech industry veteran Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. She pointed out that the word 'hasty' was inappropriate since the vaccines developed in India were approved under an Emergency Use Authorisation Karnataka panel observed that current data did not support the belief that 'Long Covid' was responsible for the rise in sudden cardiovascular events among the young. Rather, it suggested that a rise in the prevalence of common risk factors that lead to cardiovascular disease, such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking, dyslipidemia or high cholesterol, was the best explanation for the rise in sudden cardiovascular events.'Based on the recommendation, we have decided that sudden deaths outside hospitals should be declared as a notifiable disease,' said Rao, adding that autopsies in such cases will be made mandatory. The minister informed that the health department will also extend its ongoing scheme for emergency care, called Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyoti scheme, to all taluk-level a popular Kannada actor, died in October 2021 at the age of 46. He had suffered a heart attack, apparently after a gym workout. His sudden death had headlined the rising concern about cardiac fatalities striking young scheme, under which 750,000 patients have been screened since November 2023, is designed on a hub-and-spoke model and currently connects as many as 86 district and taluk hospitals to super-speciality hospitals. Alongside, Rao said, an initiative to install automated external defibrillator (AED) devices in public places will be taken up, depending on the availability of trained are portable electronic devices used to handle life-threatening cardiac health department also plans to ramp up awareness campaigns and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training programmes besides taking up annual basic health screening for government employees and for school students aged 15 and to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
