Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi initiates “SAVE” India Campaign and commences a Screening Programme for Stroke, Aneurysm and Vascular disease Evaluation

Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi initiates “”SAVE”” India Campaign and commences a Screening Programme for Stroke, Aneurysm and Vascular disease Evaluation

India’s first comprehensive Vascular screening programme – “”SAVE”” India will be launched by Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals very soon and as a buildup to the launch, the Hospital is starting a low cost screening programme commemorating the National Vascular Week commencing today.

India’s first comprehensive Vascular screening programme – “”SAVE”” India will be launched by Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals very soon and as a buildup to the launch, the Hospital is starting a low cost screening programme commemorating the National Vascular Week commencing today.

Facts:

A) Aortic Aneurysm:

• More than 15,000 people die due to this each year and nearly 2,00,000 people are diagnosed with Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) annually
• It is estimated that more than one million people are living with undiagnosed AAA and at least 95 percent of these can be successfully treated if detected prior to rupture.

B) Carotid Artery Disease (Stroke):

• Stroke remains the third leading cause of death with nearly 1, 57,000 people dying annually
• A large proportion of strokes are caused by plaque in the carotid arteries

C) Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD):

• One in every 20 Indians over the age of 50 has PAD and it is estimated to affect more than 9 million people in India
• Individuals with PAD suffer a five-fold increased relative risk of a cardiovascular ischemic event and total mortality that is two to three fold greater than those without PAD

“”SAVE”” India Campaign comprises Stroke, Aneurysm and Vascular disease Evaluation to prevent disability or death due to stroke, aneurysm rupture or leg ulcers or gangrene. Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals offers a one-time Vascular Surgeon Consultation plus Ultrasound Screening examination of Carotid arteries, Abdominal blood vessels and lower limb arteries for qualified seniors as a part of this the screening begins from August 6, 2010 till December 31, 2010. This screening will save over 50% cost to the patients suffering or high risk from peripheral vascular diseases.

High risk groups who will benefit from this screening programme are persons above the age of 50, having diabetes, hypertension, ulcers in legs or gangrene, smokers and patients who have heart disease or stroke. Peripheral vascular disease harms blood flow in arteries throughout our body. As we age, our arteries tend to thicken, get stiff, and narrow because of a build-up of plaque consisting of fat and cholesterol. When this occurs in large and medium-sized arteries, it is called atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). When the narrowing happens in arteries leading to the heart, it can cause a heart attack, when it occurs in neck arteries it causes Stroke (Brain Attack) and when it blocks leg arteries, it causes leg pain or gangrene or ulcers (Leg Attack) especially in patients with Diabetes.

Aortic Aneurysms are a swelling or ballooning of the aorta wall where it has been thinned and weakened from atherosclerosis. If untreated, an aneurysm will eventually rupture, which is usually fatal.

The SAVE campaign has been launched with an initiative to increase awareness regarding vascular diseases in the country. For the first time in India, it aims at widespread population based screening of vascular ailments throughout the nation to achieve early detection of the disease as well as early intervention to prevent the disastrous consequences of Vascular diseases. Expressing concern over growing vascular diseases, Dr. Prof. Ramesh Tripathi, Academic Coordinator and Senior Consultant Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital said, “”this innovative and cost-effective screening programme will ultimately help our patients know and prevent many complications thereby avoiding surgery or interventions before the disease is end-stage. It will also show us whether Indian peripheral vascular disease is similar to or different from what we see in the western world, giving us insights into local requirements and treatment modifications needed for Indian patients””.

“”Although Vascular Screening is very big and well established in USA, UK and Australia/New Zealand, it has so far failed to take off in India. In USA, there is legislation making screening for Aortic Aneurysms mandatory for high-risk patients. Although in India, we are far from a legislation for screening to prevent Peripheral vascular disease, SAVE India Campaign is an initial step in the right direction””, says Dr. Prof. Ramesh Tripathi. He added “” With the explosion of Diabetes in India, WHO has estimated that by 2011, India will be the Diabetes Capital of the world with the largest number of patients globally. SAVE Campaign has been launched, with an eye on future challenges of increase in cases of Vascular diseases in the country. Patients should see Vascular surgeons, who are the only physicians treating vascular disease today providing all the treatment options available (including Surgical and Endovascular) with a most balanced perspective””.

Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi has taken a first initiative for low cost screening of Stroke, Aneurysm and Vascular disease Evaluation with the slogan – SAVE LIMBS, SAVE LIVES, SAVE INDIA! The screening that was earlier costing Rs. 14,000 is now being offered at Rs. 5,000.