Since the start of the Covid pandemic, England is engulfed in a cardiovascular disease emergency, as stark figures reveal there have been almost 100,000 excess deaths, says health experts.
Studies indicate that, per week more than 500 people are dying needlessly from heart disease, heart attacks or strokes.
According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), since March 2020 there have been 96,540 extra cardiovascular-related deaths. Covid-19 infections led to a surg in excess cardiovascular deaths, during the first year of the pandemic. Though the deaths from Covid -19 have decreased, the number of cardiovascular disease deaths have remained much higher than expected.
Dr. Sonya Babu- Narayan, a consultant cardiologist and associate medical director at the BHF said, Covid-19 no longer fully explains the significant numbers of excess deaths involving cardiovascular disease and over the last few years, other major factors are likely contributing, including the extreme and unrelenting pressure on the NHS.
It’s dangerous to wait long for heart – care, where they put someone at increased risk of avoidable hospital admission, disability due to heart failure and premature death, due to lack of NHS staff and space, people are struggling to get potentially lifesaving heart treatment when they need.
Babu-Narayan says, since most heart patients wait for a long period of time, the government needs to see a specific and long-term commitment to fast-track improvements in cardiovascular care.
Dr. Charmaine Griffiths, the charity’s chief executive said, England was “firmly in the grip of a heart and stroke care emergency” since so many people with cardiovascular disease were losing their lives.
The President of British Cardiovascular Society, Prof John Greenwood said, it was worrying to hear the high numbers of excess deaths, but not surprising.
He also mentioned that, to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease, urgent prioritization should be given and to increase staff, who tackles the backlog of patients waiting for treatment.
From the government we need a strong public health strategy to promote healthy behaviors and prevent heart disease.
