A survey by the National Institute of Cardiology (INC) shows that, between 2008 and 2022, the number of hospitalizations for heart attacks increased in Brazil. Among men, the monthly average increased from 5,282 to 13,645, up 158%. Among women, the average went from 1,930 to 4,973, an increase of 157%.
The study takes into account data from the Datasus Hospital Admission System, from the Ministry of Health. Therefore, it covers all Brazilian patients who use the services of the Unified Health System (SUS), either in public hospitals or in private ones that have health insurance. This represents 70% to 75% of all patients in the country.
Some factors increase the risk of heart attack, informs the National Institute of Cardiology.
– Myocardial infarction occurs in older populations. And we also know about the increase in the prevalence of obesity in the Brazilian population – explains the general director of the INC, Aurora Issa.
According to Aurora, the cold also increases the chances of a heart attack. Data from the INC indicate that cases are more frequent during the winter. Last year, the number of heart attacks in this season was 27.8% higher in women and 27.4% higher in men compared to the summer.
– Cold causes blood vessels to constrict [sanguíneos] – says the specialist.
– The person who has a heart attack, most of the time, already has the fatty plaque in the arteries. What leads to a heart attack is inflammation in the plaque and the formation of a thrombus on top of that plaque. Infections are often a trigger for inflammation.
Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death among men and women in Brazil. Between 2017 and 2021, 7,368,654 people died for this reason in the country. According to the INC, the main forms of prevention are the practice of physical exercises and a balanced diet.
*Agência Brasil
