What heart patients need to know

Many leave hospital without all the info, study shows

Ahigh number of people who suffer a heart attack leave hospital without all the information they need — putting them at risk of another. Three-quarters of cardiac patients in New Zealand left hospital without all the preventive care information they should be given, a study shows.

International health guidelines show patients who have had a heart attack or other serious cardiac condition should be given advice on their lifestyle and be referred to a cardiac rehab facility.

They should also be on a combination of at least four kinds of medi- cation when discharged.

The Snapshot ACS (acute coronary syndrome) Study is today released by the George Institute for Global Health, supported by a number of groups including the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand.

More than 4000 people were surveyed in hospitals in New Zealand and Australia over two weeks in May, 2012.

Study leader Associate Professor Julie Redfern said the figures were not good, given the risk of other cardiac events happening later.

“It’s not good enough that the majority of patients leaving hospital miss out on the most basic care they need to avoid repeat heart attacks down the line.’’

A breakdown of results showed a similar situation in Australia, with only 28 per cent of patients there receiving optimal preventive care before leaving hospital.

Forty-three per cent of Kiwi patients were given lifestyle advice — compared to 47 per cent in Australia — and 41 per cent of people here were referred to cardiac rehabilitation, compared to 48 per cent across the Tasman.

Auckland cardiologist Dr Chris Ellis, who works at Auckland City Hospital, said the latest audit indicated more needed to be done to ensure patients were fully informed.

“Essentially, it’s a combined issue — the services have got to be in place, the hospitals have got to pay for rehabilitation nurses to run the services that we want patients to get.”

Dr Ellis said there were a number of issues that sometimes did not allow medical staff to pass on all advice such as a shortage of staff or time.

“You can’t expect patients to be given cardiac rehabilitation unless you’ve got someone to give it to them. Right across New Zealand and Australia, this has been a reminder that those need to be put in place.

“If we can get those services in place and you can use the medications and the education for patients who’ve had a heart attack, they will do better long term.”

Ministry of Health statistics show that cardiovascular disease — which includes heart, stroke and blood vessel diseases — is the leading cause of death in New Zealand.

The Heart Foundation said optimal care was crucial as many cardiac patients went on to have a second, third and even fourth heart attack.

Manager Kim Arcus said: “We look forward to hospitals using this data to help improve the care provided.’’