THREEFOLD RISE IN ANGIOPLASTIES
New Delhi: The number of heart angioplasties performed in the country to open the blocked blood vessels in heart has had a threefold increase in the past five years. In 2015, cardiologists registered more than 3. 53 lakh angioplasties with the National Interventional Council (NIC) as compared to 1.17 lakh in 2010. The number of centres performing the procedure also shot up from 251 in 2010 to 614 in 2015, with close to 5 lakh stents—scaffolding inserted inside vessels to prop them open—being implanted during the period.
NEW DELHI: The number of angioplasties performed in the country to open the blocked blood vessels in heart has had a threefold increase in the past five years.
In 2015, cardiologists registered more than 3.53 lakh angioplasties with the National Interventional Council (NIC) as compared to 1.17 lakh in 2010.
The number of centres performing the procedure also shot up from 251 in 2010 to 614 in 2015, with close to 5 lakh stents -- scaffolding inserted inside vessels to prop them open -- being implanted during the period.
“Several factors have led to a rise in angioplasties, including increased disease burden, more centres opening up across India, enhanced affordability and awareness,” said Dr VK Bahl, head of cardiology at Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
Doctors, however, believe that the number of angioplasties carried out could be higher.
“At least 20% more procedures must be added to the registered data as not all centres performing angioplasties contribute to registry, which would take the annual number to at least 4 lakh in 2015,” said Dr Ashok Seth, chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, where around 4,000 angioplasties are done in a year.
Heart diseases account for 25% of all deaths in India. Over the years, people have been getting diagnosed with heart conditions at a younger age due to changing diets, obesity and sedentary lifestyles.
The rising number of angioplasties not only reflects the increasing nature of heart diseases in India, but also highlights the growing access to treatment. Surat, Rajkot, Bareilly and Hissar are among the emerging centres for angioplasty.
“Standard procedures such as angioplasties and bypass surgery are increasingly being done in tier-two cities,” said Dr Seth.
He said these procedures were carried out a lower cost in new centres. “Young doctors get trained and go back to open their own centres, which brings down the costs tremendously. In a small centre, the procedure could cost about `1.25 lakh, which is half of what it would cost at a corporate hospital in a metro,” said Dr Seth.