A six-member expert panel investigating a spate of heart attack deaths in Karnataka’s Hassan district has submitted its findings, confirming that blood clots in the heart were responsible for several of the 24 deaths recorded over just 40 days.
The committee — led by the district health officer, cardiologists, and the director of Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences — was appointed by Deputy Commissioner K.S. Lathakumari after a concerning rise in fatalities, particularly among young and middle-aged individuals.
The probe focused on deaths reported between May and June. Of the 24 cases studied, 20 were confirmed heart attack deaths, while the remaining four were attributed to non-cardiac causes including kidney failure, accidents, and gastrointestinal issues with blood pressure complications.
Notably, six of the 20 heart-related deaths were suspected to be caused by blood clots. The committee found that several victims had a history of cardiac issues — three had previous heart attacks, two had heart stents, and one had undergone angioplasty.
Post-mortems were conducted on seven heart attack cases; results from six are in. Among these, five individuals died from sudden cardiac arrest due to blood clots, raising red flags about the suddenness and severity of the condition.
The presence of young victims further deepened concerns, prompting calls for increased cardiovascular health monitoring, especially among the younger population.