Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Aug 16: Deaths caused by cardiac arrests have nearly tripled in Karnataka in just two years, as per startling new data from the state health department. Figures recorded under the Dr Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyoti Yojana show a sharp spike — from 229 deaths in 2023–24 to 608 in 2024–25.
The number of critical ECG screenings under the scheme has also seen a significant rise, increasing from 2,489 to 6,767 over the same period. The figures were shared by health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao during the ongoing monsoon session of the Legislative Council.
However, these numbers reflect only part of the picture. The health department currently does not maintain consolidated data on the total number of heart attacks reported in the state or cardiac-related deaths outside the scheme, as such incidents have not previously been classified as a "notifiable" disease.
That is set to change. In July this year, the health minister announced that all cardiac arrest-related deaths occurring outside hospitals would henceforth be considered “notifiable” — meaning they must be reported and tracked by the government. Despite the announcement, a formal government order to this effect is yet to be issued.
The move followed growing concern over a spike in sudden cardiac events across Karnataka, particularly among younger individuals. A committee has been constituted to investigate heart-related deaths in people under the age of 45.
Health department officials have said that more than 75% of reported heart attack cases involve patients with multiple cardiac risk factors. “The most significant contributors are obesity, heavy alcohol consumption, smoking, and high blood pressure,” said a senior official familiar with the data.
In response to the growing crisis, the state is exploring new preventive measures. One such step is the expansion of CPR training to key community groups. “We are considering extending CPR training to include gym trainers, as well as students and teachers in schools and colleges,” the official added.
The government is also working to ensure that gyms, shopping malls, and other crowded public venues are equipped with Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) — portable devices designed to offer life-saving assistance during cardiac arrest emergencies.
What Dr Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyoti Yojana entails?
Launched in October 2023, the Dr Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyoti Yojana was established to provide emergency cardiac care to individuals suffering heart attacks or sudden cardiac events, particularly within the crucial “golden hour”.
The initiative follows a hub-and-spoke model, where 16 major super-speciality hospitals — including Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Kalaburagi — function as hubs, while 85 district and taluk hospitals act as spokes. Patients first receive primary care at spoke centres and are referred to hubs if advanced treatment is needed.
A key feature of the scheme is the free provision of Tenecteplase, a life-saving clot-busting injection that typically costs up to Rs 45,000. This has made critical treatment more accessible, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Urgent call for lifestyle changes and faster response
The latest data has sparked concerns among health professionals and policymakers alike. With lifestyle diseases on the rise and sudden cardiac deaths affecting even the under-45 population, experts warn that Karnataka may be facing a widening cardiovascular health crisis unless urgent preventive action is taken.
Officials are urging citizens to adopt healthier lifestyles, undergo routine heart check-ups, and respond promptly to warning signs such as chest pain, breathlessness, and fatigue.
“We are seeing too many preventable deaths. Public awareness, faster emergency response, and early screening are critical,” the official said.
As the state awaits formalisation of new protocols, the alarming tripling of cardiac-related deaths serves as a wake-up call for Karnataka’s public health system.