Number of heart attack cases consistent since 2024, no need to panic: Karnataka ministers

Bengaluru: There is no cause for panic regarding the "rising" heart attacks in Karnataka, as the number of cases being reported has remained consistent since 2024, ministers Sharanaprakash Patil and Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Tuesday.

The ministers released an investigative report delving into the much-talked about increase in sudden deaths in the Hassan district.

The 17-page report establishes that there is nothing to worry about, as no particular district has recorded an increase in heart problem-related deaths, said Patil, the medical education minister. "There has been panic about the increasing number of cardiac arrest cases. But we have analysed the data and there is no cause for panic. The average number of deaths due to cardiac problems has remained the same over the years. There are no new factors causing these deaths," he added.

Due to the panic set in across the state, government hospitals have seen a 30-40 per cent rise in outpatients, according to Patil.

As per the report, over 75 per cent of the recently deceased in Hassan district were prone to one or more cardiac risk factors — including smoking, obesity, alcohol consumption and hypertension. Of the 24 "sudden" deaths that took place between May and June in Hassan district, four were non-cardiac deaths. Of the remaining 20, 10 were confirmed cardiac deaths, and 10 have been ruled as probable cardiac deaths.

The report rolled out by the director of the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Bengaluru, has analysed data related to heart-problem patients and deaths at Jayadeva hospitals across Bengaluru, Mysuru and Kalaburagi. The data reveals that there has been no sizable increase in either cardiac arrest deaths or patients over the course of the last six months.

To deal with concerns regarding premature cardiovascular disease among young adults, the report suggests early cardiovascular screening programs and health education.

"Necessary arrangements have been made across state hospitals for heart-related check-ups. Not all chest pains are heart-related. You can always get it checked by the doctors close to your home. But there is absolutely no need to panic unnecessarily," said Gundu Rao, the health and family welfare minister.