<p>Kalaburagi: The reports of an increase in heart attack cases in Hassan has created panic among the general public, with more people starting to visit Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research here for heart-related check-ups.</p><p>Till May, the number of new patients visiting the out-patient department (OPD) for health check-ups was up to 4,900, and this has increased to 5,535 in June. However, the people admitted for treatment have not witnessed much increase despite the rise in the number of new OPDs.</p><p>A total of 9,708 people, including old and new patients, visited the OPD in January. Of these, 686 patients (7.06 percent) were admitted for treatment. Out of a total of 11,056 visits in June, 798 patients (7.21%) were admitted. Hospital doctors said that there is no significant increase in admissions.</p><p>As the number of OPDs increased, there has also been a rise in heart-related ECG, 2D echo-cardiogram, treadmill test, biochemistry, and pathology tests. In January, 7,390 ECGs, 4,535 2D echo-cardiogram tests, 199 treadmill tests, 14,699 biochemistry and 5,023 pathology tests were performed. In June, 8,666 ECGs, 4,599 2D echo-cardiogram tests, 274 treadmill tests, 17,090 biochemistry and 5,9024 pathology tests were performed.</p><p>"People are coming to the hospital in large numbers out of anxiety and requesting for heart-related treatment after watching news in the media. Treatment is being provided based on their medical condition. The daily OPD patients have increased to 600 as against 400 patients just two weeks ago. They are coming out of anxiety even if they have heartburn due to gastritis", the hospital cardiologist and in-charge medical superintendent, Dr Viresh Patil, said. </p><p><strong>371-bed hospital</strong></p><p>The expansion of the branch from the 135-bed hospital to the 371-bed hospital has added more strength to the government healthcare, as poor and middle-class people from backward Kalyana Karnataka region can avail treatment at affordable rates. The new building was thrown open to the public in December last year.</p><p>The autonomous institute has also launched the Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) programme to link all government taluk hospitals in Kalaburagi, Yadgir and Bidar districts with it as part of its initiatives to expand affordable heart-care services to the poor and marginalised sections in rural areas. The doctors in these taluks have been trained about handling heart-related diseases with preliminary medication and procedures such as thrombolysis.</p><p>The electrocardiogram (ECG) performed for the heart-attack patients at these taluk hospitals would be immediately transmitted to the SJICR branch office in Kalaburagi or its main campus in Bengaluru where expert cardiologists would examine the reports and guide the doctors about handling the cases in taluk hospitals. After the three-hour golden period of screening and preliminary treatment during the heart attack, the patients would be shifted to Kalaburagi branch hospital for further procedures such as angiogram and angioplasty.</p>
<p>Kalaburagi: The reports of an increase in heart attack cases in Hassan has created panic among the general public, with more people starting to visit Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research here for heart-related check-ups.</p><p>Till May, the number of new patients visiting the out-patient department (OPD) for health check-ups was up to 4,900, and this has increased to 5,535 in June. However, the people admitted for treatment have not witnessed much increase despite the rise in the number of new OPDs.</p><p>A total of 9,708 people, including old and new patients, visited the OPD in January. Of these, 686 patients (7.06 percent) were admitted for treatment. Out of a total of 11,056 visits in June, 798 patients (7.21%) were admitted. Hospital doctors said that there is no significant increase in admissions.</p><p>As the number of OPDs increased, there has also been a rise in heart-related ECG, 2D echo-cardiogram, treadmill test, biochemistry, and pathology tests. In January, 7,390 ECGs, 4,535 2D echo-cardiogram tests, 199 treadmill tests, 14,699 biochemistry and 5,023 pathology tests were performed. In June, 8,666 ECGs, 4,599 2D echo-cardiogram tests, 274 treadmill tests, 17,090 biochemistry and 5,9024 pathology tests were performed.</p><p>"People are coming to the hospital in large numbers out of anxiety and requesting for heart-related treatment after watching news in the media. Treatment is being provided based on their medical condition. The daily OPD patients have increased to 600 as against 400 patients just two weeks ago. They are coming out of anxiety even if they have heartburn due to gastritis", the hospital cardiologist and in-charge medical superintendent, Dr Viresh Patil, said. </p><p><strong>371-bed hospital</strong></p><p>The expansion of the branch from the 135-bed hospital to the 371-bed hospital has added more strength to the government healthcare, as poor and middle-class people from backward Kalyana Karnataka region can avail treatment at affordable rates. The new building was thrown open to the public in December last year.</p><p>The autonomous institute has also launched the Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) programme to link all government taluk hospitals in Kalaburagi, Yadgir and Bidar districts with it as part of its initiatives to expand affordable heart-care services to the poor and marginalised sections in rural areas. The doctors in these taluks have been trained about handling heart-related diseases with preliminary medication and procedures such as thrombolysis.</p><p>The electrocardiogram (ECG) performed for the heart-attack patients at these taluk hospitals would be immediately transmitted to the SJICR branch office in Kalaburagi or its main campus in Bengaluru where expert cardiologists would examine the reports and guide the doctors about handling the cases in taluk hospitals. After the three-hour golden period of screening and preliminary treatment during the heart attack, the patients would be shifted to Kalaburagi branch hospital for further procedures such as angiogram and angioplasty.</p>
