Renfrewshire’s failing heart health revealed
Charity boss calls for action as cases triple in a decade
Doctors are treating soaring numbers of heart complaints in Renfrewshire.
Medics handled 2,752 cases last year – almost triple their workload just a decade ago.
Families have swamped cardiology departments, making them among the busiest in the country.
Almost eight inpatients were treated across the region every day over the period.
Simon Gillespie, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation, warned early detection needs to be improved to stop problems developing.
He said: “If we’re to prevent the health crisis on our horizon, we need radical action to reverse spiralling rates of diabetes.
“People with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases.
“The expected surge in type-2 diabetes cases by 2035 could put thousands more people at risk of a deadly heart attack or stroke.
“We need to tackle high blood pressure and other conditions which lead to preventable heart attacks and strokes.
“Failing to act risks undoing hard fought progress in cutting heart and circulatory disease death rates.
“The consequences of this would be felt for a generation.
“This starts with making sure that common risk factors, such as high blood pressure, are detected at a much earlier stage.
“This can be done in the community, whether that is in a pharmacy, supermarket, or even football ground.
“It also means using data science and our increased knowledge of genetics to better identify people who have an inherited risk of heart disease.”
Health board statistics reveal cardiology discharges have rocketed since 2008-09.
Doctors admitted 701 patients in total over the 12 months.
Numbers surged to 2,197 five years ago – before reaching 2,752 last year.
Emergency admissions to the department increased substantially over the period.
Patients were taken in for urgent treatment 241 times in 2008-9.
This increased to 1,872 by last year.
Dr Linda de Caestecker, director of public health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, which manages medical services across the region, insists efforts to improve personal health must be stepped up.
She said: “We have been working closely with our local authority partners and primary care colleagues over a number of years to cut deaths from heart disease.
“There has been a focus on supporting people to improve their health and wellbeing, alongside ongoing advances in medical care.
“It has been influenced by preventative measures, such as the adoption of healthier lifestyles and the continuing reductions in smoking rates.
“However, if we are to see reductions in deaths from heart disease, we need to continue helping people to participate in more physical activity, preparing and eating a healthy diet, and further reducing their alcohol intake.”