Monday, April 28, 2008

Health Watch-9: '“India burdened by Heart Disease” – AFP

By 2000, India will carry 60% of the world’s heart disease burden, nearly four times more than its share of the global population, according to a study.

Adding to the burden is a higher incidence of the types of heart disease resulting in serious illness and mortality, and the fact that these conditions strike at an early age, says the study.

Death rates are especially high among the country’s poorest residents, unable to get to hospital quickly in an emergency, or to afford routine treatments and surgery.

Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD), mainly heart attacks and coronary artery disease, is the leading cause of mortality in the world, accounting for 7.1 million deaths in 2001. More than 80% of these were in developing countries.

Researchers have long known that south Asia has the highest level of acute coronary syndromes in the world, but little statistical data were available about treatment and health outcomes. - AFP

Excerpt from The Hindu, Madurai, April 26, 2008
Also read article on "Heart diseases" from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_Diseases
Grateful thanks to AFP, The Hindu and Wikipedia.

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