Although the Covid-19 pandemic has been present for just over a year, it has still not been able to overcome another serious health problem. According to figures from National Institute of Statistic and Geography (INEGI), from January to August 2020, heart diseases caused 141,873 deaths in our country. With this they remain the leading cause of mortality in Mexico. For this reason, one of the most important programs that exist is the Infarct Code.
This initiative emerged in 2015 in order to guarantee the urgent diagnosis and treatment of patients due to acute myocardial infarction. His transition was gradual and until 2018 its implementation was completed in all units of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) in the country.
Effect caused by the current health emergency
In this sense, Dr. Gabriela Borrayo Sánchez, national coordinator of the Infarct Code program, warned of a global phenomenon in the framework of the pandemic. It is estimated that around 40 percent of people who have suffered heart attacks stopped being treated for fear of contagion.
He explained that the IMSS continues with the application of this program that saves lives, “it is important to note that we observed a reduction in income for this cause by 40 percent, those who arrive at the emergency services do so with a delay of 30 to 40 minutes for fear of contagion, and it is very likely that patients who do not arrive are dying at home ”.
He recalled that since the beginning of the pandemic, people with heart disease were identified as a high-risk group. For this reason, Social Security has reinforced the mechanisms for the care of chronic illnesses in the State Representations that are showing a green or yellow traffic light.
Program results
In addition, it is also important to note that this program has managed to reduce two days of intensive therapy and one day of hospitalization for the intervention in a time between 30 and 90 minutes after the beneficiary arrives at a Social Security medical unit.
Borrayo Sánchez stressed that there is also the IMSS DIGITAL APP, in which there is direct access to the units that serve the Infarction Code.
“This application locates and guides us to get through a geolocation, so that the patient can locate throughout the country which unit with the Infarct Code program that is closest to him.”
He recalled that in 2015 the Infarction Code was created, which to date has treated nearly 35 thousand cases, mortality has decreased by 62% (from 21 to 8%) percent and saved more than 5,600 lives. He also said that during the pandemic mortality has not increased.
Dr. Gabriela Borrayo pointed out that continuing with treatments can prevent cardiovascular complications such as heart and brain strokes, arrhythmias, among others, by up to 80 percent.
He assured that going to hospitals is safe even with the active pandemic, because in IMSS hospitals there are health protocols such as mandatory use of face masks, social distancing, application of alcohol gel or frequent hand washing.