One in 100,000 young people die suddenly each year, while 90% of sudden deaths are due to heart problems, according to what specialist scientists reported in the context of the 44th Panhellenic Cardiology Conference, organized by the Hellenic Cardiology Society in Thessaloniki (ΕKE).

For the prevention of sudden death, CSR recommends thorough pre-sport checkup and in fact for the first time sends, via e-mail, to cardiologists a guide to the pre-sports check-up, to which not only professional athletes but also students must submit.

“The protocols do not change but are updated based on the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology. The main thing is the correct clinical examination, the history of the child and above all a cardiogram. From there, if the cardiologist decides that further tests should be done, they will be done. We are talking about an ultrasound, magnetic heart and genetic testing if there are indications. There is an algorithm that is followed and must be followed by everyone for the diagnosis of congenital or non-congenital heart diseases or cardiomyopathies” pointed out the professor of Cardiology at the University of Athens and vice-president of EKE Kostas Toutouzas. Depending on the findings, recommendations for those at risk may be to stop playing sports or only stop playing competitive sports.

Seminars for students and the public, aimed at preventing sudden death

The president of EKE Giorgos Kochiadakis, for his part, pointed out that EKE has declared 2023 as the year of sudden death and in this context organizes CPR seminars aimed at the school community and the general public.

“If an interruption occurs, in the city or at a social event, it should be regrouped within 2-3 minutes. Often there is no doctor or other health professional. Therefore, the first aid will be given by his fellow man, the one who is next to him. It is very important that these people are trained to give first aid. EKE is making an effort to raise awareness in collaboration with the Panhellenic Medical Association and the Medical Associations to create training centers at each Medical Association headquarters. This will make it easier to spread knowledge in society. 90% of sudden deaths are due to the heart. That’s why our Company has put it in front on two levels: prevention and treatment. At the level of prevention, let the State help us inform in order to reduce all the factors that lead to coronary heart disease. The issue of dealing with it is the big bet,” noted Mr. Kochiadakis.

Increased incidence of coronary heart disease in areas affected by natural disasters

The manifestations of coronary heart disease, according to the literature, are expected to increase in areas affected by natural disasters, such as Thessaly and Evrossaid Mr. Kochiadakis and added that EKE is organizing a large prospective study in Thessaly, with the participation of all the cardiology clinics in the region, in order to investigate the impact of the natural disaster that has occurred for the next decade.

In our country, we have approximately 24,000 acute coronary syndromes, that is, 24,000 heart attacks per year, said the interventional cardiologist/director of Cardiology at Errikos Dynan Ioannis Kanakakis. “The “Iliahtis” study of the Hellenic Cardiology Society and the European Stent-Save a life initiative shows that Greece is doing very well in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. While it started very low a decade ago, today the majority of heart attacks are treated invasively with angioplasty and stenting, and the in-hospital mortality is between 3-7%, when a few decades ago it was over 30%. We have some challenges to go even further in the treatment of heart failure. In Greece we have about 200,000 patients with heart failure, there are new treatments for this, which help to reduce mortality but also the quality of life as well as reducing admissions to hospitals, because at the age of over 65, the most frequent reason for admission it is heart failure” added Mr. Kanakakis.