Celebrity deaths lead to sudden increase in cardiac CT scans among young people in the city | Mumbai News

MUMBAI: Radiologists in the city have been witnessing a new trend in the last few years. cardiac CT scan rose after a young celebrity died of heart disease. In a country where heart attacks among young people are on the rise (according to the Indian Heart Association, 50% of all heart attacks in India occur in men under 50), undiagnosed heart disease can lead to sudden death. There seems to be a growing fear of being connected. A trauma specialist at a suburban hospital underwent a cardiac CT scan or CT angiogram after a 46-year-old colleague died of a heart attack several months earlier. “I have a family history of heart attacks and I wanted to know after my colleague passed away,” he said, adding that he was happy that tests had shown no problems so far. .
A cardiac CT scan is a non-invasive, quick test that reveals blockages in arteries, narrowing, and problems with the heart's ability to pump. In standard angiography, a contrast agent is injected into a blood vessel through a catheter before x-ray images are taken of the contrast agent as it travels through the blood vessel. There are no statistics on cardiac CT scans performed in the city, but cardiologists and radiologists have reported an increase in anecdotes following deaths among young adults. The latest person to die was Epigamia co-founder Rohan Mirchandani, 42, who died of cardiac arrest last week. “When a young person dies who is not a celebrity, only family and friends choose a cardiac CT scan. If the person is a celebrity, the number is even higher,” said senior radiologist Dr. Babin Giancaria. Ta.
This trend has put radiologists and cardiologists at odds, with the latter insisting that cardiac CT scans require a prescription. Cardiologists say some people undergo multiple CT angiograms without realizing they are exposed to radiation. However, radiologists say they encourage repeat scans unless medically necessary.
U-50 heart attack spike
Dr. Prince Surana of Surana Hospital Group said that the trend of heart attacks among young people has become very noticeable over the past five years. At his Chamber Hospital, 974 (38%) of the 2,593 patients who underwent angioplasty between 2022 and 2024 were under the age of 50. Dr Sandeep Gore, head of the emergency department at Fortis Hospital in Mulund, said 20 per cent of the 1,000 heart attack patients rushed to the hospital by ambulance in the past five years were under 45 years of age. “Further analysis showed that the 40-45 year old age group is the most vulnerable, accounting for 10% of heart attacks,” he said, adding that most of them are smokers, stressed and at high risk. He added that he had a high level of homocysteine ​​(an amino acid found in large amounts during arteriosclerosis). harden or form a blood clot in the vein). Dr Amit Nabar of SL Raheja Fortis Hospital in Mahim said the effects of improper diet, sleep and activity levels are manifesting in heart attacks in people in their 40s and 50s.
In search of a “clear” CT scan
Cardiologist Dr. Prashant Pawar said the trend in cardiac CT has been noticeable this year “especially in the last six months.” The cost of a cardiac CT scan ranges between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000, depending on the “If a person is asymptomatic but has a family history of heart disease risk and does not respond to the dye, a cardiac CT scan may help assess that person's risk,” Dr. Giancaria said. If the scan is clear, you may not have to worry about complications for 5 to 8 years. “As long as this result doesn't reinforce bad behaviors like smoking, that's a good thing,” the doctor said.
Multiple cardiac CT scans
But some cardiologists say people are misusing the CT angioplasty option. Dr Pawar of Fortis Vashi Hospital said that a family who lost a young member to a heart attack a few years ago is undergoing repeat CT angiography. Dr Ganesh Kumar, a cardiologist at LH Hiranandani Hospital in Powai, said the radiation from each CT scan is equivalent to 100 x-ray exposures. “Radiation can increase the risk of cancer. Radiation is painless, so people don't realize it,” he said, adding people should consult a cardiologist before undergoing a heart CT scan. added.
A senior cardiologist recalled a 72-year-old man who underwent a CT angiogram after the death of a friend. “He was diagnosed with a moderate block that would not require angioplasty if he had no symptoms, which he had hoped for. Unfortunately, he developed a rare complication called stent thrombosis and died. I did,” he said.
Another cardiologist said a 28-year-old man who was concerned about heart disease underwent a CT angiogram on the advice of a friend. “The radiology center performed the test without seeking a prescription from a cardiologist, and as expected, the test was normal,” he added.
However, Dr. Giancaria said that while radiologists allow self-prescription, they advise against a second cardiac CT scan. “So far, only one patient has had a repeat CT angiogram, and he did it again eight years later,” he said, adding that the theory of radiation exposure and cancer has so far been conclusively proven. He added that it has not been done.