Safety net for heart patients being strengthened

About 20,000 bosom attacks hap annually successful Greece, prompting caller proposals aimed astatine improving timely and broad treatment for cardiovascular patients, peculiarly successful distant and land regions, the Hellenic Society of Cardiology said.

Presenting the plan, society president prof Konstantinos Toutouzas highlighted disparities successful entree to exigency care.

“If someone walking successful Athens suffers a bosom attack, they will beryllium instantly transferred to a infirmary with a catheterization lab. If it happens connected Crete, they will beryllium rapidly transported. But if it happens connected Folegandros, what will happen?” helium asked.

The society proposes wider use of thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction patients successful areas lacking contiguous entree to specialized cardiac units.

According to the connection submitted to the wellness minister, patients diagnosed with ST-elevation myocardial infarction should beryllium transferred to a infirmary with a catheterization laboratory if transport tin hap within 120 minutes.

If delays transcend that window, thrombolytic therapy should beryllium administered, followed by transfer within 24 hours for angiography and imaginable angioplasty.

The program besides calls for telemedicine support linking distant doctors to notation hospitals, on with training for wide practitioners and internists successful thrombolysis and reperfusion strategies.

Cardiovascular diseases relationship for astir 1.7 cardinal deaths annually successful the European Union, with up to 70% considered preventable.

In Greece, they outgo an estimated €4.3 cardinal each year.

The society further recommends establishing cardiac rehabilitation centers, noting that such programs amended survival, carnal capableness and prime of life.

Despite planetary guidelines, referrals to rehabilitation successful Greece stay astir nonexistent.

At slightest 500 to 800 patients annually would initially necessitate rehabilitation services to support betterment and reintegration, Toutouzas said.