Delays in treatment for heart disease

A study done by the British Heart Foundation along with a team of specialists at King’s College London was published by The Guardian on 11 September 2023.

Read the original article: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/sep/11/wait-and-see-policy-on-heart-devices-puts-lives-at-risk-says-uk-charity

It is understood that adopting a watch-and-wait policy for fitting patients suffering from coronary heart disease with implantable defibrillators puts lives at unnecessary risk.

The research suggests that: “ICDs should be given to the highest-risk heart failure patients earlier.”

The usual practice has been to initially trial stents and/or medication, However, Dr Holly Morgan, a BHF clinical research fellow, says: “By showing that coronary stents had limited benefit for this group of heart patients, we have exposed a clear window of missed opportunity to reduce chances of dying from an abnormal heart rhythm. We hope our findings will influence existing guidance so patients can be spared unnecessary waits to receive a potentially lifesaving defibrillator.”

It is hoped that this research will prompt a change in guidance and improve a patient’s quality of life as well as the survival rates of those with coronary heart disease.

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