Tamil Nadu council to set up registry to monitor heart attacks

In order to tackle the growing cases of cardiac problems and offer better treatments, the Tamil Nadu interventional council is taking the initiative of setting up a registry to monitor heart attacks.

This central registry will monitor the collective patient database of heart attacks on an annual basis, with a set objective of recording the incidence of heart attacks, and further investigate the treatment methods, and outcomes of such cases.

Collective information on prevention-before and after heart attacks-is also a part of the initiative.  Various studies in India have shown that it takes an average of 300 minutes (way beyond the golden hour) to hospitalise a person who has suffered a cardiac arrest. 50% of cases prove fatal on the way, and that is a rising concern among the medical community.

As reported by TOI, "The idea behind forming a registry is to record the annual incidence of heart attacks, treatment methods and outcomes. It will also allow policy makers to make informed decisions on prevention. The data will be collected by the council from all the districts hospitals," said senior interventional cardiologist Dr G Sengottuvelu of Apollo Hospitals and secretary of TIC.

"Every second counts for patients undergoing angioplasty, lifesaving treatment for the most serious types of heart attacks. While most do not reach the hospital on time, those who do make it can benefit depending upon the hospital, as there are limited centres that can deal with cardiac emergencies," said the doctor, pointing out the need to expand the network of hospitals treating heart attacks.

Dr Sengottuvelu is further implied to have said that there is a deeper concern about the rising cases of young heart attack victims. At least two cases every week in the age group of 40 to 45 years are reported at the hospital.