HEART FAILURE CASES UP 54% Many people simply don’t know the impact
Charity calls for more cash to be spent on support for those hit by little-known condition
THE number of Scots being diagnosed with heart failure has rocketed in the past 10 years.
During Heart Awareness Month, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is calling for more investment in support such as specialist nurses for people diagnosed with the condition.
NHS figures show almost 48,000 are living with heart failure – an increase of 54 per cent on 10 years ago.
The statistics also show that the number of people discharged from hospital with heart failure have gone up from about 11,000 in 2008-09 to more than 17,000 in 2018-19.
And the charity fears that without urgent measures to ensure proper support is in place, Scotland will not meet the growing needs of those diagnosed and their families.
Last year, a report on specialist heart failure nursing in Scotland showed a lack of investment – despite growing caseloads.
The condition is usually incurable and only half of those diagnosed survive more than five years.
The heart can’t function properly and struggles to pump blood around the body. Yet few people are aware of what it is and often confuse it with heart attacks or cardiac arrest.
The rising number of sufferers is thought to be partly down to more people surviving events such as heart attacks, which damage the heart.
Another cause could be the ageing population, as heart failure becomes more common in later years – although it can affect younger people out of the blue, often as a result of undetected heart
BY Health Editor
VIVIENNE AITKEN conditions. Because of the poor prognosis and the effects of symptoms such as breathlessness, without support many people with heart failure have little quality of life or can struggle with mental health.
Like victims of cancer, sufferers and their families need a package of support but with heart failure the awareness and investment often just isn’t there.
Jane-Claire Judson, Chief Executive at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, said: “It’s a devastating disease and although it affects more people in Scotland than common cancers, many people simply don’t know what it is or what impact it has.
“This has been on the Scottish Government’s radar since the 2014 Heart Disease Improvement Plan.
“We need to see a renewed focus on ensuring everyone gets the support they need, whether it’s a specialist nurse or community support.
“When people think of heart disease it’s often heart attacks that come first to mind but heart failure is far more deadly, and is on the increase.
“We’ve clearly been successful at helping people survive longer with heart failure but we need to help them really live.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Latest statistics show that the mortality rate for coronary heart disease fell by 32.4 per cent between 2009 and 2018.
“Prevention of heart disease is a priority for the Scottish Government.”
JANE-CLAIRE JUDSON