Medical news on December 28: Every year, 200,000 Vietnamese people die from cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease is increasingly becoming a public health concern in Vietnam, especially as the prevalence of this disease is trending toward younger people.
Burden of Cardiovascular Disease in Vietnam
Doctors at Hanoi Heart Hospital continuously receive young patients, many of whom are only in their 20s and are facing serious complications of cardiovascular disease, such as myocardial infarction or stroke. Over the past year, doctors at this hospital have performed more than 2,300 surgeries related to cardiovascular disease.
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| The number of people with cardiovascular disease is getting younger, many of whom are of working age. Illustrative photo |
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Sinh Hien, Director of Hanoi Heart Hospital, shared that cardiovascular disease is currently becoming a major challenge for the global and Vietnamese healthcare sector.
This is the leading cause of death worldwide. In Vietnam, cardiovascular disease is also increasing alarmingly, with the rate of diseases such as high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart failure, etc. increasing and getting younger.
According to data from the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health), each year, cardiovascular disease claims the lives of about 200,000 Vietnamese people, accounting for 25% of all deaths in our country. What is worrying is that the number of people with cardiovascular disease is getting younger, many of whom are of working age.
Doctors are facing myocardial infarction in people in their early 20s, aortic dissection, stroke, or cases requiring coronary artery bypass surgery and stent placement in patients in their early 30s. Associate Professor Hien also said that the rate of young people (aged 30-40) with high blood pressure in Ho Chi Minh City and other areas is also very high.
In addition to genetic factors, age and gender, unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking, lack of exercise, and unhealthy diet leading to overweight and obesity are the main causes of cardiovascular disease. Preventing cardiovascular disease and early detection of this disease play an important role in reducing the incidence and mortality of heart disease.
Although the health sector has made progress in improving professional capacity, the current health care system in many areas still lacks human resources and facilities, and medical equipment is not enough to meet the needs of medical examination and treatment, especially in suburban areas, where there is a long distance from cardiovascular centers.
At a recent scientific conference organized by Hanoi Heart Hospital, medical experts discussed solutions to improve the direction and management of cardiovascular diseases.
Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, said that providing professional support to lower levels is necessary to improve the effectiveness of medical examination and treatment, especially when the direction of the level is carried out synchronously from the top to the bottom.
Director Ha Anh Duc also emphasized the potential of digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of cardiovascular disease. Hospitals now have a huge database and the application of AI will help improve the quality of diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, while minimizing errors in medical examination and treatment.
Two more deaths from rabies after dog bites
Recently, in Gia Lai province, two deaths from rabies were recorded after being bitten by dogs. This is a warning about the dangers of this disease, and emphasizes the importance of rabies prevention through full vaccination and timely wound treatment.
According to information from his family, Mr. NTK (63 years old, Pleiku City) was bitten on the hand by a dog digging through trash near his house about 2 months ago. However, Mr. K. did not get a rabies vaccine and only cleaned the wound himself.
On December 24, Mr. K. began to have symptoms of difficulty breathing and fatigue and was admitted to Gia Lai Provincial General Hospital with a suspected diagnosis of rabies.
Immediately afterwards, Mr. K. was transferred to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases for treatment. Test results showed that Mr. K. was positive for rabies. However, due to the severity of the disease, Mr. K. died on the evening of December 26.
The second case is Mr. D.K. (52 years old, Po To commune, Ia Pa district), who was bitten on the lip by his family dog. Although his relatives advised him to get a rabies vaccine, Mr. D.K. refused and did not go for the vaccination.
On December 26, Mr. D.K. began to show typical symptoms of rabies such as fear of water and wind and was taken by his relatives to the Ia Pa District Medical Center before being transferred to Gia Lai Provincial General Hospital. However, due to his severe illness, Mr. D.K. died that same afternoon.
According to the representative of CDC Gia Lai, this year there have been a total of 9 deaths due to rabies in this province. Rabies is one of the most dangerous diseases, once it develops, the mortality rate is almost 100%. However, it is worth noting that rabies is completely preventable through timely rabies vaccination.
According to experts, to prevent rabies, people need to vaccinate their dogs and cats: People need to vaccinate their pets against rabies regularly and get booster shots every year. This not only protects pets but also helps prevent the spread of rabies virus to the community.
Keep dogs and cats in a safe area: Pets should be leashed or kept in a cage, especially when outdoors. If dogs are outdoors, they should be muzzled to prevent biting. Children should also be educated about safe contact with dogs and cats to avoid being bitten.
Wash the wound immediately: When bitten by a dog or cat, wash the wound under running water with soap for at least 15 minutes, then disinfect with 70% alcohol or iodine alcohol. Absolutely do not self-treat or seek medical advice.
Get vaccinated against rabies promptly: After being bitten by a dog or cat, people need to go to a medical facility immediately to get vaccinated against rabies and anti-rabies serum. If vaccinated before being bitten, the number of injections needed will be fewer and the treatment process will be simpler.
One concern about rabies vaccines is the concern about side effects, especially effects on the nervous system and memory. However, Dr. Nguyen Tuan Hai (Safpo/Potec Vaccination System) said that the new generation of rabies vaccines is now produced using modern technology and no longer causes side effects like the old generation of vaccines.
This vaccine is manufactured using fractional centrifugation technique, minimizing impurities and does not use mercury preservative (thimerosal), so it does not adversely affect the health of the vaccinated person.
The Ministry of Health recommends that people should not be subjective about rabies. It is necessary to get vaccinated against rabies in time to protect yourself and the community.
Health agencies and local authorities need to strengthen propaganda and education of people on rabies prevention, especially in remote areas where vaccination rates are low and the situation of stray dogs is not controlled.
Although there is an effective rabies vaccine, rabies continues to claim the lives of many people due to subjectivity in vaccinating dogs and cats and treating bite wounds.
Therefore, raising awareness and taking timely action in rabies prevention is essential to protect public health.
Meningococcal meningitis is an infectious disease with a high mortality rate in Vietnam.
Meningococcal meningitis is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases with a high mortality rate and has caused many major epidemics worldwide. Each year, the world records about 1.2 million cases, of which about 135,000 die.
In Vietnam, meningococcal meningitis is one of the 10 infectious diseases with the highest mortality rate, threatening public health, especially children and adolescents.
Meningococcal meningitis is a serious acute infection caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis, which can lead to meningitis and blood poisoning.
The disease has many different serotypes, and their distribution can vary geographically and over time. According to statistics, in Vietnam, about 90% of cases are infected with serotype B.
The disease is common in children under 5 years old and adolescents aged 15-24, while people with weakened immune systems are also more susceptible to infection.
Meningococcal meningitis can be fatal within 24 hours if not treated promptly. The mortality rate is up to 50% if not treated properly, and 20% of survivors suffer severe sequelae such as hearing loss, intellectual impairment, or amputation.
Prof. Dr. Phan Trong Lan, President of the Vietnam Preventive Medicine Association and Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, shared that invasive meningococcal disease remains a major burden on the community.
To cope with this risk, experts have developed the book “Prevention of Meningococcal Disease”, which aims to systematize knowledge about the disease, provide recommendations on vaccination and answer common problems in clinical practice. Vaccination is a proactive prevention strategy, helping to prevent and control outbreaks.
Mr. Nguyen Trong Toan, Deputy Director of the Clinical Trial Center, Pasteur Institute, Ho Chi Minh City, warned that people of any age can get meningococcal disease, but children under 1 year old are at the highest risk, especially during the 5-month period.
Meningococcal meningitis can progress rapidly and cause death within 24 hours. Without prompt treatment, the mortality rate can be as high as 50%, while 20% of survivors suffer severe sequelae.
Experts recommend that vaccination is the best way to prevent meningococcal disease. Vaccination not only protects individuals but also helps prevent the spread of disease in the community, especially in high-risk areas. In Vietnam, there are currently effective meningococcal vaccines that are recommended for children and high-risk people.
The Vietnam Preventive Medicine Association said that implementing widespread and universal vaccination programs will help reduce morbidity and mortality from meningococcal meningitis.
Vaccination campaigns need to focus on high-risk areas, including mountainous, remote and isolated provinces, where outbreaks can have a serious impact on public health.
Meningococcal meningitis is rare but extremely dangerous and has a high mortality rate. Prevention through vaccination is the only way to protect public health and reduce the impact of the disease.
The Ministry of Health and relevant agencies need to continue to promote propaganda and raise public awareness about meningococcal vaccination, thereby helping to limit the spread of this dangerous disease.
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