Dismay at jump in deaths from heart disease

THE pandemic has caused a worrying rise in the number of under- 65s dying from heart problems, a leading charity has warned.

The British Heart Foundation said figures revealed a rise in additional deaths from heart and circulatory diseases.

And maintaining cardiac services during a second peak of the pandemic should be a priority, it said, as delaying care for heart and circulatory problems can cause “avoidable harm”.

It urged people to seek medical help if they had any troubling symptoms.

The charity analysed official mortality data for England and Wales to examine the number of deaths among heart patients, especially among those aged 65 and under. It calculated that in the under- 65s alone there has been more than 800 excess deaths from heart and circulatory problems since the pandemic’s start.

Dr Sonya Babu- Narayan, BHF associate medical director, said: “Despite rising cases of Covid- 19, restoring and maintaining planned cardiovascular care must remain a priority. Over time, heart and circulatory problems can become more urgent and delaying this care could risk avoidable harm.”

Sarah Fisher, 49, suffered a heart attack in May and has been diagnosed with heart failure.

In July she was told she urgently needs an ICD – a small implant which helps people with life- threatening abnormal heart rhythms. She is still waiting. Sarah, from Bromsgrove, said: “I was told I would have had the ICD by now if it wasn’t for the delays caused by Covid- 19.

“I’m on the urgent list, but my cardiologist can’t even give me any idea of when I will get it.

“I am so scared about having another heart attack.

“I try not to get angry, but it’s hard when some people are complaining about not being able to go for a drink and all I want to do is live.”