Heart Disease Diagnosis in India: Challenges, Advances, and the Road Ahead
Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death in India, accounting for nearly 28% of all mortality, according to recent health reports. With a rapidly urbanizing population, lifestyle changes, and increasing rates of diabetes and hypertension, the country faces a growing burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial to reduce mortality and improve patient outcomes.
Current State of Heart Disease Diagnosis in India
The diagnosis of heart disease in India spans a spectrum from basic ECGs in rural health centers to advanced imaging techniques like CT coronary angiography and cardiac MRI in metropolitan hospitals. However, there remains a wide disparity in diagnostic access, especially between urban and rural areas.
Key Diagnostic Tools Used:
1. Electrocardiogram (ECG): Common and inexpensive, but often limited in detecting complex conditions.
2. Echocardiography: Widely used to assess heart structure and function, yet not always available in smaller towns.
3. Stress Testing: Helps evaluate coronary artery disease; more common in tier-1 and tier-2 cities.
4. Cardiac Biomarkers (like Troponin): Essential in detecting myocardial infarctions, but underutilized in rural setups.
5. Coronary Angiography: The gold standard for diagnosing blocked arteries, but costly and invasive.
AI-Based ECG Interpretation: Emerging in some urban hospitals to assist doctors with quicker, more accurate diagnoses.
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