New Delhi : Celebrating 25 years of excellence and leadership in cardiac care, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Delhi, India’s celebrated hospital, dedicated to cardiac care released key findings of the ‘State of the Indian Heart’, a compilation of cardiac disease trends since its inception in 1988. These findings shed light on the vulnerabilities of the Indian heart, given its genetic predisposition to specific diseases, a sharp increase of cardiac disease among Youth and Women with changes in urban Indian lifestyles.

 Dr Ashok Seth, Chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Delhi,said, “We have been deeply involved in the delivery of heart care in the country for 25 years. During this time, we are seeing an increasing pattern of the disease affecting the youth, especially in the recent few years. Our studies have helped to identify what ails the Indian heart so we can take prevention and the cure of cardiac diseases to a more comprehensive and advanced level.”

 During its 25 years, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute has conducted a record 160,000 Angiographies, over 80,000 Heart Surgeries and 50,000 Angioplasties. It has also collected valuable demographic details of patients for different research-driven projects, resulting in the crucial findings that have emerged today.

 Dr Peeyush Jain, Head, Department of Preventive Cardiology, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Delhi, said, “Cardiovascular disease is the biggest killer in India and Asia. It is increasingly affecting younger people

 And women over the last 10-15 years.The spike in cardiac diseases in the Youth is due to sedentary and stressful lifestyles that accompany high pressure jobs. Unhealthy diets and addictions like smoking and tobacco chewing are added factors. With changing social norms, women today enjoy an equal footing in the society and are working longer hours, shouldering greater stress and dual responsibility of home and career. All these aspects exacerbate the early onset of the disease.”