The National Office for Clinical Audit has published the latest Irish Heart Attack Audit today, looking at STEMI* heart attack presentations in Ireland in 2024.
In Ireland, there were 1615 confirmed STEMIs in 2024. 75% were male and 25% female. More than a third (36%) of patients with a STEMI in 2024 were smokers at the time of their heart attack, double the rate of smoking nationally (17%). Nearly half (44%) of patients with a STEMI in 2024 had a previous history of hypercholesterolaemia (too much cholesterol) and 53% had a previous history of hypertension. 27% of these STEMI presentations had a diagnosis of diabetes.
55% of patients were brought directly by ambulance to a PCI centre (a specialist hospital that can perform an emergency procedure, to quickly open a blocked heart artery during a heart attack). To be most effective, this procedure needs to be done within 2 hours after a heart attack is diagnosed. This is referred to as timely primary PCI.
“We welcome the latest Irish Heart Attack Audit and thank NOCA for the huge work they have done in compiling these figures, and while it is great to see some noted improvements in STEMI treatment in Ireland, most notably improvements in prescribed medication bundles and access to cardiac rehab for STEMI patients, the Audit reflects the stark reality that lack of public awareness of the significance of calling an ambulance in order to enable timely treatment is putting STEMI patients at risk.”
By calling 999, or 112, paramedics can do an electrocardiogram (ECG) on the spot and if it shows a STEMI, they will take the person directly to a PCI centre for urgent treatment. However, where a heart attack patient is not transported by ambulance, and to a non-PCI hospital, this can leave them open to delays in timely treatment, and thus more susceptible to loss of life.
“Of equal concern also, are the high smoking rates among patients with a STEMI in 2024, demonstrating there is more work to do in reducing smoking rates and helping smokers quit “.
To access NOCA’s Irish Heart Attack Audit 2024, please click here: https://www.noca.ie/documents/irish-heart-attack-audit-national-report-2024/
* A STEMI is and ST elevation myocardial infarction type of heart attack that happens when the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly cut off, usually by a blood clot (thrombosis). It differs from a non-STEMI heart attack, where the supply of blood to the heart may be partly, rather than completely, blocked. STEMI heart attacks can therefore cause damage to a larger area off heart muscle.
“We need a national heart attack awareness campaign in Ireland that educates the public on the importance of calling an ambulance when they experience heart attack symptoms. This is vital if we are to ensure less lives are lost from this type of heart attack in the future”.
Ireland international Orla Prendergast is supporting the Irish Heart Foundation after losing her father to heart disease, encouraging people across Ireland to take small steps to protect their heart health.
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