Cardiovascular Crisis: 1 in 4 Mauritian Deaths Under 60 Linked to Heart Disease

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in Mauritius, responsible for 33% of all fatalities in 2023 – with nearly a quarter of these deaths occurring in people under 60, Health Minister Anil Bachoo revealed on Saturday, 9th August.

Speaking at the annual conference of the Mauritius Cardiovascular Society at the Hilton Hotel in Flic-en-Flac, Bachoo disclosed that 3,840 deaths last year were linked to heart disease and strokes. Of these, 59% were due to cardiac conditions, while 24% resulted from strokes and other vascular diseases.

Alarming Risk Factors Among Population, the minister highlighted concerning lifestyle trends driving the crisis:

• 1 in 5 adults (25-74 years) has diabetes
• 1 in 4 suffers from hypertension
• Over a third of adults are overweight
• Nearly 20% are regular smokers

Of particular concern is smoking among young men, with 48% of males aged 25-34 using tobacco – a trend that threatens public health progress.

Rising Demand for Cardiac Care

Despite challenges, Bachoo praised the public health sector’s efforts, noting:

• 145,000+ outpatient cardiology consultations in 2023
• 57,000+ emergency cases treated
• 11,000+ hospital admissions

The cardiac catheterisation unit performed 1,000+ open-heart surgeries and 6,485 angiograms – a 30.7% annual increase. However, Bachoo stressed the urgent need for 24/7 angiogram access for heart attack patients, warning that “every minute counts” to prevent irreversible damage or death.

Mauritius is expanding national preventive measures, including:

• Cardiology clinics in local health centres (serving 3,000+ patients last year)
• Screening programmes reaching 40,000 adults and 30,000 adolescents
• Public gyms, wellness clubs, and stricter anti-tobacco policies

International Conference Planned

Minister Bachoo announced a major international cardiovascular conference in October 2024, aiming to bolster local expertise with global insights. “This will be a turning point for Mauritius’ heart health,” he said. The two-day event brought together local and international cardiologists to discuss advances in treatment and research.

Source: l’Express