Every fourth patient admitted to a cardiology clinic in our country is a heavy smoker.
Even though smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for heart health, and smoking cessation is among the top recommendations doctors make to patients, it appears that 26% continue to smoke. In patients requiring hospitalization in the cardiology department, the most common cause of hospitalization is heart failure, most of them are men, whose average age is 70 years, and in a percentage of up to 60% they have high cholesterol. Although they are at high risk for serious illness from COVID-19, 11% of them are not vaccinated.
The profile of hospitalized cardiac patients in our country is captured by a recent study conducted by the Hellenic Society for Cardiovascular Research (Cardioresearch.com), preliminary results of which are presented to Kathimerini on the occasion of Today is World Heart Day.
World Heart Day has been celebrated on the initiative of the World Heart Federation since 1999 annually on September 29th. The goal is to raise awareness in society of the danger caused by the epidemic of cardiovascular diseases in the world, as well as to initiate comprehensive preventive measures against coronary heart disease and stroke in all population groups.
According to Panos Vardas, Professor of Cardiology, President of the Hellenic Society for Cardiovascular Research and Head of Strategic Planning at the European Society of Cardiology in Brussels, “The study was conducted in May last year and included cardiology clinics in all hospitals in the country, and documented the facts of heart disease and comorbidities in hospitalized patients registered on a specific day (One day Snapshot Survey). The value of the study is due to its pan-Greek nature, the number of participating clinics and the fact that registration was carried out and completed simultaneously in all public and private cardiology clinics, on the same day.”
Total was registered 835 patients from 58 cardiology clinics across the country. 63% of hospitalized patients were male, with a median age of 70 years. For women (37%), the mean age was 75 years.
“This study was carried out everywhere, which is undoubtedly important and significant for the country’s healthcare system and, in general, for those responsible for inpatient cardiovascular care,” notes Mr. Vardas. Most common reason for hospitalization of patients had heart failure (43% of hospitalized patients had a history of heart failure), followed by coronary heart disease and arrhythmias.
One in four (25%) had COVID-19, and 11% were not vaccinated. Of the 835 patients, 59% had cholesterol problems, 39% had arterial hypertension (high blood pressure), 32% had diabetes mellitus, and 17% had a history of chronic renal failure.
One in ten had a history of depression requiring medication, 7.5% reported a history of stroke, and 5.5% suffered from vascular disease.
26% of hospitalized cardiac patients were active smokers, despite having the disease. “Interestingly, the pan-Greek registration did not reveal any notable problems with the accessibility of Greek heart patients to modern forms of therapeutic treatment, as outlined in the recommendations of the European Society of Cardiologyc,” notes Mr. Vardas, and continues, “according to all international estimates, cardiovascular diseases, together with strokes, still represent the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in Europe, and more widely in all developed countries. Recently, the European Society of Cardiology in its biennial journal “Cardiovascular Realities 2022” presented very interesting data:
- As reported, Cardiovascular disease globally accounts for 46% and 38% of all deaths in women and men, respectively. Among the 57 countries of the European Society of Cardiology, there are large differences in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. It is significant that CVD incidence is 30% higher in middle-income countries than in high-income countries.
- 26% of those hospitalized in cardiology dispensaries are active smokers.
- 43% of patients requiring hospitalization have a history of heart failure.
- 59% of them have high cholesterol.
- 11% of all hospitalized patients were not vaccinated against COVID-19.
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