Hassan heart attack deaths trigger panic, patient surge at Jayadeva Hospital

Mysuru: In the wake of a disturbing rise in heart attack-related deaths in Karnataka’s Hassan district, thousands of people have been flocking to Jayadeva Hospital in Mysuru and Bengaluru seeking cardiac evaluations. Long queues have been reported outside the outpatient departments since early morning. 

Hospital authorities have confirmed a significant increase in the number of patients arriving for heart check-ups, driven largely by media reports highlighting 23 heart attack-related deaths in Hassan over just 40 days last month. Alarmingly, six of the victims were aged between 19 and 25, and eight were in the 25-45 age bracket

Bengaluru's Jaydeva Hospital has recorded an 8% increase in patient visits, with many coming from Hassan and nearby districts seeking precautionary cardiac screening.

Dr. KS Sadananda, Medical Superintendent at Jayadeva Hospital, Mysuru, urged the public to stay calm and avoid overburdening a single facility.

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Taking note of the alarming reports, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed that the state government is closely monitoring the situation. A special committee, led by Dr. KS Ravindranath, Director of the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, was formed to investigate the unusual pattern of cardiac deaths in Hassan.

Also Read: Karnataka CM orders probe into heart attack deaths in Hassan

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that amid a recent surge in heart-attack-related deaths in Hassan district, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday expressed serious concern and announced the formation of an expert committee headed by the Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research to identify the causes and provide findings.

The committee recently submitted its report to the government, putting forward several recommendations, notably suggesting that the Hassan development be examined as a separate case study.

Speaking in Bengaluru on Monday after reviewing an expert committee’s findings, Rao clarified that the increase in sudden cardiac deaths is not directly tied to COVID-19 vaccination. The data shows no clear connection between the vaccine and these fatalities, he said, referencing a comprehensive study conducted by a panel led by Dr Ravindranath, reports Hindustan Times.

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The investigation, conducted at Jayadeva Hospital and involving 253 patients, concluded that vaccination was a common factor, but not a causative one.

The expert panel’s report has brought renewed attention to lifestyle-related diseases as the primary drivers behind the recent surge in heart attack-related deaths in Karnataka. Among the most prominent factors is tobacco use, found in over half the cases studied, making it the single largest contributor. In addition, the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity has significantly increased cardiac vulnerability among the population.

According to the news reports, the report also draws a strong connection between sedentary lifestyles and heart disease, pointing to excessive screen time, lack of physical activity, and chronic stress as critical concerns, especially among the youth.

In response to the findings, the Karnataka government is implementing a series of proactive steps to curb further incidents.