Lahore Sees Alarming Rise in Cardiac Patients
News Desk
Lahore: A sharp surge in cardiac emergencies in the provincial capital has placed unprecedented strain on the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), with nearly 283,000 patients seeking emergency care over the past eight months.
Official figures reveal that 282,962 patients visited the emergency department during this period, underscoring the growing burden of heart-related ailments in the city.
Doctors performed 20,530 procedures, including 4,719 primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs), a critical treatment for patients suffering acute heart attacks.
The data highlights alarming monthly trends. July recorded the highest influx, with 40,936 emergency visits, 2,726 procedures, and 627 primary PCIs. The pressure persisted into the new year, as January 2026 saw 36,879 patients arrive at emergency, resulting in 3,180 procedures and 740 primary PCIs.
Healthcare insiders say the overwhelming caseload has forced difficult decisions. Patients experiencing minor cardiac episodes are often stabilised and discharged after initial treatment, while others are referred to outpatient departments for follow-up care.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/80-of-youth-heart-issues-preventable-dr-kashif/
However, concerns have emerged that limited immediate access to primary PCI in some emergency cases has led to critically ill patients returning repeatedly for urgent intervention.
Medical Superintendent and spokesperson Dr Aamir Butt acknowledged the mounting pressure but maintained that emergency services remain operational within available capacity.
“All emergency patients are being provided immediate medical care,” he said, adding that angioplasty and other life-saving procedures continue without interruption despite the rising numbers.
Public health experts warn that the growing influx reflects a broader escalation in cardiovascular disease across urban centres, driven by stress, sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary habits, and unmanaged risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes.
As emergency rooms continue to fill, the figures serve as a stark reminder of the mounting cardiac health crisis facing the provincial capital, and the urgent need for both preventive care and expanded treatment capacity.
