Deutscher Herzbericht: Herzbericht: Weniger Todesfälle durch Herzinfarkte

The German heart report, titled "Deutscher Herzbericht: Weniger Todesfälle durch Herzinfarkte" (Fewer heart disease deaths in Germany), reveals a slight decrease in overall mortality due to heart conditions in the country. This positive trend is based on 2024 data and highlights a decline in the coronary artery disease (CAD) death rate, the primary cause of heart attacks.

The report reveals that coronary heart disease mortality per 100,000 inhabitants fell from 127.3 in 2023 to 118.3 in 2024, a decrease of more than seven percent. In 2023, a total of 119,795 people died due to coronary artery diseases, including 43,839 heart attacks; in 2024, the figure dropped to 113,473, with 41,258 heart attacks.

While several other heart conditions saw a reduction in mortality rates, one exception was the rise in the number of congenital heart defects compared to 2023. Deutsche Herzstiftung's CEO Thomas Voigtländer highlights significant progress in cardiac medicine, including improved diagnostic techniques, therapies, and rehabilitation methods such as stent therapy and bypass surgery.

He emphasizes the need for stronger prevention efforts to avert damage to coronary arteries, primarily by reducing risk factors such as high blood pressure, lipid metabolism disorders, diabetes, obesity, and smoking. The report also finds that women's prognosis after a heart attack remains significantly worse than men's, a gap that has persisted since 2019.

The difference is likely attributed to factors like differing comorbidity levels and delayed recognition of heart attacks in women during hospital stays. With the aging population, cardiovascular diseases are expected to become even more prevalent. In patients over 70 years old, cardiovascular diseases account for a larger share of all death causes.

The report stresses the importance of interprofessional, multi-sectoral care to address this growing challenge, from primary care to specialized cardiology and intensive care units. Younger people are also not immune to heart conditions; rising hospitalization rates for coronary artery diseases and arrhythmias in individuals as young as 40 years old should prompt a focus on identifying and managing risk factors through lifestyle changes and medications.

In 2024, over 1.65 million heart-related hospitalizations were recorded, reflecting a slight increase compared to the previous year. The report warns that heart failure hospitalizations become increasingly common with age, particularly for those over 60 years old, and that the risk of acute decompensation, a sharp deterioration in heart function, also increases with age.

The recommendation of flu vaccinations by the Standing Vaccination Commission is particularly important for vulnerable groups. The report also expresses concern over potential staffing shortages in cardiac acute care due to clinic insolvencies and the evolving hospital landscape. Chest-Pain Units (CPUs), equipped with standardized treatment protocols, could play a crucial role in addressing these concerns, highlighting the importance of uniform certification standards for these specialized facilities.