Cardiovascular diseases are still the so-called ‘silent killers’ of Poles. In addition, the factors causing them are increasing; for example, the sale of cigarettes is growing, participants of the 87th Spring Conference of the Polish Cardiac Society (PTK) warned.
The event, which began on Saturday in Białystok, north-eastern Poland, is attended by several hundred doctors from home and abroad and is scheduled to last until Sunday. Those gathered are discussing the latest treatment recommendations in cardiology.
“Despite high technology and trained specialists, mortality from cardiovascular diseases in Poland and the world is still a major problem,” Prof. Agnieszka Tycińska of the Medical University of Białystok (UMB) told a press conference, adding that these diseases are the ‘main killers’ of Poles.
According to her, a major problem among cardiovascular diseases is heart failure. She assessed that there is almost an epidemic of it.
“We have a problem with the treatment, with the management of patients with heart failure, but this is the case all over the country and not only because there is an epidemic of heart failure at the moment,” the professor said. She added that there are patients who are difficult for doctors to deal with.
“The extreme condition of heart failure is cardiogenic shock. Still, the mortality rate in cardiogenic shock, for years, for a decade, has been 50%, that is, every second patient dies,” Tycińska said. She added that there are special ‘pumps’ available for patients, which support circulation, but they are not reimbursed in Poland. However, doctors would like to implement this technology in the country.
PTK President Prof. Robert Gil said that patients with cardiogenic shock, or as he put it, those with the worst prognosis, account for about 6% of heart attack patients.
“Unfortunately, we have the worst mortality rate in Europe, exceeding 65%, and this needs to be improved,” Gil said, and added that the PTK has begun work on creating a special program for the treatment of this condition.
“Despite high technology and trained specialists, mortality from cardiovascular diseases in Poland and the world is still a major problem,” Prof. Agnieszka Tycińska of the Medical University of Białystok (UMB) told a press conference, adding that these diseases are the ‘main killers’ of Poles.
According to her, a major problem among cardiovascular diseases is heart failure. She assessed that there is almost an epidemic of it.
“We have a problem with the treatment, with the management of patients with heart failure, but this is the case all over the country and not only because there is an epidemic of heart failure at the moment,” the professor said. She added that there are patients who are difficult for doctors to deal with.
“The extreme condition of heart failure is cardiogenic shock. Still, the mortality rate in cardiogenic shock, for years, for a decade, has been 50%, that is, every second patient dies,” Tycińska said. She added that there are special ‘pumps’ available for patients, which support circulation, but they are not reimbursed in Poland. However, doctors would like to implement this technology in the country.
Poland has the worst mortality rate in EURozpoczynamy 87. Wiosenną Konferencję #PTK konferencją prasową z udziałem Wojewody Podlaskiego, prof. Roberta Gila, prof. Agnieszki Tycińskiej oraz prof. Karola Kamińskiego pic.twitter.com/Md250p77a8
— Polskie Towarzystwo Kardiologiczne (@PTKardio) April 13, 2024
PTK President Prof. Robert Gil said that patients with cardiogenic shock, or as he put it, those with the worst prognosis, account for about 6% of heart attack patients.
“Unfortunately, we have the worst mortality rate in Europe, exceeding 65%, and this needs to be improved,” Gil said, and added that the PTK has begun work on creating a special program for the treatment of this condition.
Chairman of the Prevention Section of the PTK, Prof. Karol Kamiński stressed that doctors are observing with concern that factors that raise the risk of cardiovascular disease are increasing.
“Since 2016, the number of cigarettes sold has been increasing nationwide. We can expect this to translate into unfavorable trends also in morbidity and mortality from the most significant smoking-related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer,” Kamiński assessed. He added that statistics show that the increase in the predicted survival time of Poles has slowed down since 2016.
Kamiński stressed that Poland, among all OECD countries, is the one with the most frequent hospitalizations of heart failure patients.
“This is largely related to the problem of coordinating in-hospital care with out-of-hospital care,” Kamiński said. He added that there is a lack of “optimal coordination” in heart failure between specialized and hospital care. He pointed out that coordinated care is for heart attacks.
He pointed to the need for coordination of all state and local government activities in the health care system and the necessary education of the public. The problem is, for example, with patients who have diabetes or hyperlipidemia, but do not know that they are sick. At the same time, he assessed that knowledge has arrived, for example, thanks to the “40+” preventive examinations.
“However, we do not see a higher incidence of treatment for these diseases. Patients know they have health problems, but are not motivated to get treatment,” Kamiński added. He pointed out that neglecting this treatment could mean that doctors will not be able to cope with the “growing epidemic of metabolic diseases, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”
“Since 2016, the number of cigarettes sold has been increasing nationwide. We can expect this to translate into unfavorable trends also in morbidity and mortality from the most significant smoking-related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer,” Kamiński assessed. He added that statistics show that the increase in the predicted survival time of Poles has slowed down since 2016.
Kamiński stressed that Poland, among all OECD countries, is the one with the most frequent hospitalizations of heart failure patients.
“This is largely related to the problem of coordinating in-hospital care with out-of-hospital care,” Kamiński said. He added that there is a lack of “optimal coordination” in heart failure between specialized and hospital care. He pointed out that coordinated care is for heart attacks.
He pointed to the need for coordination of all state and local government activities in the health care system and the necessary education of the public. The problem is, for example, with patients who have diabetes or hyperlipidemia, but do not know that they are sick. At the same time, he assessed that knowledge has arrived, for example, thanks to the “40+” preventive examinations.
“However, we do not see a higher incidence of treatment for these diseases. Patients know they have health problems, but are not motivated to get treatment,” Kamiński added. He pointed out that neglecting this treatment could mean that doctors will not be able to cope with the “growing epidemic of metabolic diseases, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”
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