In alarming data, it has been found that the first six months of 2021 saw a tremendous increase in deaths due to heart attacks in Mumbai. The city reported 206 per cent more deaths from heart attacks compared to 2019. Experts have raised concerns over the increase in figures. Some cited a thrombotic state (when blood clots block arteries or veins) due to Covid-19 as the reason behind this. Some others said that a more detailed study is necessary to examine if there was any other reason apart from Covid, like stress or unexplained anomalies.

“Drawing conclusions merely based on the number of deaths, without population dynamic or demographic statistics, history of Covid infection, vaccination status, and existing medication routine will not be a scientific way of assessment. Undoubtedly, patients suffered from Acute Cardiac Events during the pandemic due to the thrombotic state created by the infection. But if these patients had no history of Covid and died purely due to cardiac complications, then the causes could be lifestyle changes, additional distress, or a new clinical anomaly,” said Dr Abdul Samad Ansari, director, Critical Care Services, Nanavati Max Hospital.