Research Shows Link Between Greek Crisis and Heart Disease
Research Shows Link Between Greek Crisis and Heart Disease
The financial and social crisis experienced by Greece during the last years is causing heart disease.
Scientific research at the Cardiology Clinic “Elpis” in Athens, showed a large increase in heart attacks; especially in young people, women, and uninsured employees.
The scientists of the clinic studied two periods with respect to the consequence of acute myocardial infarction in patients admitted to the clinic of Elpis over the last 10 years. The first period from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2007 is called “five years before the crisis,” and the second, from January 1, 2008 to August 31, 2012 is called “five years of crisis.” The year 2008 was chosen as the starting point of the crisis, since it was then that a decrease in national gross domestic product became evident, along with a gradual increase in the unemployment rate.
The results of the research showed that the number of admissions for myocardial infarction increased significantly over the five years of the crisis in both sexes, compared to the five years before the crisis. This increase reached 86.5% in women, while in men it reached 28.2%. The rate of patients aged under 45 years in both men and women also increased (a 74.5% increase).
What is even more important is that during the period of crisis, the increase of heart attacks in uninsured patients reached 126.5% (mostly in men). There was also an increase in the number of heart attacks in men and women who didn’t bear any risk factor (a 54.5% increase). Finally, during the five years of the crisis, the imports in Elpis clinic grew by 12.8%.
Read the article here: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2013/11/11/research-shows-link-between-greek-crisis-and-heart-disease/
