Coronary Artery Disease in Kerala: How can we improve Public Awareness for better Patient Outcome?

Abstract

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally and the number one cause of death in India. The prevalence of CAD has been declining in the developed world, but in the last two decades, there has been an alarming increase in the prevalence of CAD in India. Kerala has the highest burden of CAD in India. The high rates of heart disease at relatively young age incur huge economic burden on the state. High rate of heart disease in Kerala could be attributed to correspondingly high modifiable lifestyle risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol levels and smoking. In this review, we explore ways to provide better care for CAD patients in Kerala.