According to a comprehensive study by the University of Leeds, individuals who have experienced ‘heart attacks’ are at ‘significantly increased risk’ of developing dozens of serious long-term health problems.
A study of 145 million hospital records over nine years revealed that heart attack survivors were more likely to have other health conditions such as heart failure, kidney failure (85%), atrial fibrillation (0%), stroke (1%) and diabetes.
The likelihood of depression was higher among women and younger patients. Surprisingly, heart attack survivors had lower cancer rates than the general population. Additionally, the investigation uncovered variations in health outcomes across different socioeconomic strata.
These findings point to the need for more effective care and support especially in heart attack survivors, particularly as they are more likely to have later health problems. According to the British Heart Foundation and Welcome, among other organizations, these findings are crucial in determining healthcare decisions and resource allocation for patients to achieve optimal long-term outcomes.
