Heart Attacks Increase Risk of Major Long-Term Health Issues

A crucial new study indicates that having a heart attack raises the likelihood of several major long-term health issues.

In the largest study of its type, University of Leeds researchers have determined the risk of long-term health issues following a heart attack by analyzing over 145 million records spanning every adult patient admitted to the hospital during a nine-year period.

Even though heart attacks are a dangerous and potentially fatal condition, according to the British Heart Foundation, over 70% of individuals today survive them as long as they receive prompt emergency care to restore blood supply to the heart muscle. However, prior studies have demonstrated that heart attacks can have a negative impact on a patient’s health, potentially leading to other heart and circulation system disorders, as well as disorders affecting other body systems and mental health issues.

According to recent research, which was partially supported by Welcome and The British Heart Foundation, those who experienced a heart attack had a far higher incidence of subsequent diseases than people of the same age and sex who had not.

Within the nine-year research period, 38% of patients died from any reason, 7% experienced further heart attacks, and up to a third developed heart or kidney failure.

People who had a heart attack were more likely to experience heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, severe bleeding, kidney failure, type 2 diabetes, and depression than those who did not; however, their overall risk of dementia and cancer was lower.

Disadvantaged Backgrounds and Heart Attack Survivors: A Higher Risk of Long-Term Health Issues and Challenges

The study found that socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals had higher risks of death or major long-term health issues after heart attacks. Individuals from deprived backgrounds faced higher risks of heart and kidney failure compared to peers from less disadvantaged homes.

Dr. Marlous Hall stated that about 1.4 million UK heart attack survivors face high risks of serious health conditions. Our study provides accessible online information to help heart attack survivors make informed healthcare decisions based on various factors.

Study Reveals Critical Insights on Post-Heart Attack Health Outcomes and Care Needs

“Effective communication of the likely course of disease and risk of adverse long-term outcomes between patients and healthcare professionals can promote positive lifestyle changes, encourage patients to stick to treatment, and improve patient understanding and quality of life.”

“Our study highlights the need to revise individual care plans to address the increased demand for care caused by survivorship.”

The records of every person who was admitted to one of 229 NHS Trusts in England between January 1, 2008, and January 31, 2017, at the age of eighteen, were examined by the researchers. This equated to 34,116,257 hospital admissions out of 145,912,852 total. People who suffered their first heart attack were reported 433,361 times. Patients who had heart attacks were, on average, 67 years old, and 66% of them were men.

In addition to death from all causes, the study examined 11 non-fatal health outcomes, which are listed below, and compared the outcomes to a control group of 2,001,310 people.

Health outcomes

Research revealed that, in comparison to the patients in the control group, there was a markedly higher chance of certain problems arising after a heart attack.

Heart failure was most common, affecting 29.6% of the study group and 9.8% of the control group.
Compared to 19.8% of the control group, kidney failure occurred in 27.2% of the study group’s patients.

Approximately 22.3% of the research group experienced atrial fibrillation, in contrast to 16.8% of the control group.

Additionally, 17% of the study group and 14.3% of the control group had new hospital admissions due to diabetes.

Additional prerequisites were:

Severe bleeding: 19% in the study group and 18.4% in the control group
Cerebrovascular disease: 12.5% in the study group and 11.6% in the control group

4.06% in the control group and 6.5% in the study group are peripheral artery disease.

Death from all causes: 37.8% in the study group and 35.3% in the control group

Overall, hospitalization data showed that 8.9% of patients experienced depression after having a heart attack, which was 6% more than in the control group. Women were more prone to depression after a heart attack, especially if it occurred at a younger age. Among women under 40 who had heart attacks, 21.5% recorded depression, compared to 11.5% of men.

When compared to the control group, there was no overall change in the risk of dementia after a heart attack. The study group showed a slightly higher vascular dementia risk than the control group, but the difference wasn’t significant.

The study found that the cancer risk for the research group was lower than that of the control group. After heart attacks, 13.5% of the study group developed cancer, compared to 21.5% in the control group. The reasons for lower cancer rates post-heart attack remain unclear, requiring further research into the various involved mechanisms.

Addressing Health Issues: The Need for Support and Resources After Heart Attacks

Morag Foreman stated this research offers insights for necessary support and interventions to aid patient recovery after heart attacks.

This study emphasizes funding research to enhance public health understanding through cohort studies and analysis of large data sets. It’s critical to comprehend the long-term effects on physical and mental health as heart attack survivors rates rise.”

Professor Bryan Williams noted that while more people survive heart attacks, they may face significant long-term health effects. People may suffer irreversible cardiac damage, especially after a large heart attack, which increases their chance of developing heart failure. This study highlights how heart attacks increase risks for atrial fibrillation and heart failure, especially in disadvantaged populations. The research suggests these individuals could benefit from additional support and monitoring to reduce the risk of new medical issues.

“It is crucial the NHS has resources, staff, infrastructure, and equipment to provide long-term care for patients’ health.”