Hospitalizations for heart attacks more than doubled in 14 years – 07/10/2023 – Health

Data compiled by the National Institute of Cardiology (INC) show that hospitalizations caused by heart attacks increased by about 150% between 2008 and 2022. complication risks.

The monthly average of hospitalizations for a heart attack in men was about 5,282 at the beginning of the series and rose to 13,645. Among women, the number was 1,930 and went to 4,973. The data only consider information from the SUS (Unified Health System) available in the Hospital Admission System – it does not include hospitalizations in the private network.

Cardiovascular complications, such as heart attacks, are the main causes of death from illness in Brazil. In the case of heart attack, there are several factors that explain the increase in recent years, says Aurora Issa, director general of the INC.

Temperature is one such aspect. That’s because, in cold periods, contraction of blood vessels is more common – that is, the decrease in the diameter of the vessels where the blood runs – which increases the chances of heart attack. In winter, respiratory diseases also increase, another factor that may be associated with a heart attack.

“[Infecções respiratórias são] a trigger for inflammation of fatty plaques and, with that, the formation of clots that lead to infarction”, says Issa.

The survey paid attention to the differences between the seasons and found that the peaks of hospitalizations for heart attacks occur during the winter, with a drop in the summer. Numbers vary from year to year, but in 2022, the difference in hospitalizations between cold and warm months was 27.4% for men and 27.8% for women.

The aging population is another factor. Brazil, like other countries, has a larger number of older people, due to the increase in life expectancy. “The heart attack affects more elderly people, so this increase in age brings the possibility of having more heart attacks”, explains Issa.

Unhealthy lifestyle habits are also included in the list of explanations. Sedentarism, for example, is associated with heart attack. Overweight too. Other complications, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, still count.

Prevention

The study serves as an alert to improve prevention and the population’s access to health services. “This leads to the need to reassess measures, mainly prevention, so that we can try to reverse this exponential increase”, summarizes the director of the INC.

It reinforces the importance of expanding access to health services, so that everyone can receive earlier diagnoses and guidelines for the control of diseases associated with heart attacks. But the prevention of heart problems goes through changes in habits: controlling weight, maintaining physical activities and quitting smoking are some important actions in the fight against infarction.

“Undoubtedly, the smartest way to reverse this is preventive measures”, concludes Issa.