Nearly half of Pakistan’s heart attack patients are under 49, and up to 15% are younger than 40, cardiologists at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) have revealed.
Experts say the number of younger patients suffering heart attacks is rising rapidly, fueled by diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, and unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Dr. Abdul Hakeem, Director of NICVD’s Cath Lab, called the trend alarming, noting:
“Pakistan has the world’s highest rate of young heart attack patients. One in three adults has diabetes, 40% suffer from hypertension, obesity is rampant, and smoking remains common.”
He added that many at-risk individuals are unaware of their health problems, partly because weight gain often goes unnoticed under loose-fitting clothes, a common cultural practice.
“Everyone over 30 should get a heart check-up,” he advised.
Dr. Hakeem further cautioned that 90% of heart attack patients do not experience the typical chest pain.
Instead, they report vague symptoms like heaviness or acidity-like discomfort, which often leads to delays in diagnosis and treatment.
“If you feel chest heaviness while walking or climbing stairs, get an ECG immediately,” he said.
“The most dangerous type, an anterior heart attack, can damage up to 60% of heart muscle and often leads to a clot within 4–8 weeks, raising the risk of stroke.”
NICVD Advances Research and Innovation
NICVD Executive Director Dr. Tahir Saghir announced that the institute is advancing into cutting-edge research, including trials on drug-coated balloons as a stent-free solution for artery blockages, supported by international funding.
Senior cardiologist Dr. Nadeem Rizvi emphasized the importance of locally conducted research tailored to Pakistan’s specific healthcare realities.
Similarly, Dr. Tariq Furman, Director of the Dow Institute of Cardiology, noted that genetic, socioeconomic, and physiological differences require adaptation of Western treatment guidelines for Pakistani patients.
These insights were released alongside findings from Pakistan’s largest clinical trial on acute left ventricular thrombus (LVT)—a life-threatening blood clot that can form after a major heart attack and lead to stroke.
The RIVAWAR trial, conducted by NICVD in partnership with local pharmaceutical company Pharmevo, compared the efficacy of rivaroxaban, a newer blood thinner, with the traditional drug warfarin.
Running from June 2021 to December 2023, the study involved 261 patients, all enrolled within a week of a heart attack.
Most had severely reduced heart function due to extensive damage.
Results showed rivaroxaban to be a safe and effective alternative, with faster early clot resolution and comparable long-term outcomes over 12 weeks.
Researchers say early diagnosis and timely treatment of LVT could prevent thousands of strokes each year in Pakistan.