Study:Doctors are prone to heart disease

Doctors are not health conscious. Hard to believe? That’s what the study carried out by a Madurai-based physician says.

The findings of the study of  A.Madhavan interventional cardiologist of Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Madurai, published in ‘Circulation’ American Heart Association’s Journal, last month, has revealed that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is at ‘epidemic proportions’ in a cohort of medical practitioners.

Titled ‘Madurai Area Physicians’ Cardiovascular health Evaluation of Survey,’ the study undertaken in association with Lown Cardiovascular Research Foundation, Boston among 1,433 physicians in the South Tamil Nadu has revealed that about 44 % of them are prone to metabolic syndrome, a risk for heart attack and stroke.

While 94 % of them are allopathic doctors, the rest who were subjected  to the study are Ayurvedic or Siddha practitioners. Aged between 30 and 81, of the identified respondents 942 in number are men and 491 are women says Dr.Madhavan.

A startling revelation of the study carried out applying international diabetic federation guidelines is that women physicians are more vulnerable to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) than their male counterparts.It showed that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome went up significantly in 48.5 % of women doctors as against 41.1 % of males.

‘Stressful life, sedentary lifestyle, erratic eating habits and irregular sleep make doctors prone to heart diseases.The surgery underscores the need for a comprehensive, sustained and society-wise interventions focused on prevention of risk factors,’ says Dr.Madhavan.