–increasingly affecting young adults, Dr. Carpen laments
HEART disease has become alarmingly widespread in Guyana and is increasingly affecting people in their 20s, 30s and early 40s, according to cardiologist Dr. Mahendra Carpen, who warned that the country is facing a growing public health crisis.
Appearing recently on the Guyana Dialogue programme, Dr. Carpen said Guyana has inherited an unwanted distinction once associated with neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago, where heart disease was previously regarded as one of the country’s most serious health challenges.
“There was a time in the early 90s and early 2000s when our neighbours in Trinidad and Tobago were considered the heart attack capital of the world,” he said, adding: “Unfortunately, I think Guyana is now taking up that crown, and it’s an unwanted crown, where heart disease is rampant in our country.”
The cardiologist said that when he returned to Guyana in 2012 after completing advanced medical studies in Toronto and Boston, most heart attack patients were in their 50s, 60s and 70s. However, that trend has changed dramatically over the last decade.
He explained, “Now it is a very common thing to see 30-year-olds, late 20-year-olds and early 40-year-olds coming into the hospital with heart attacks.”
Dr. Carpen described the development as deeply concerning because it affects individuals during some of the most productive years of their lives.
“These are people who have young children in school, who are working, building careers, qualifying for mortgages and supporting families,” he noted, adding: “It’s a very worrying development.”
According to the cardiologist, heart disease remains the leading cause of death globally and Guyana has not been spared from that reality.
While researchers have not yet identified all the factors driving the rise in cardiovascular disease among younger Guyanese, Dr. Carpen said several lifestyle changes may be contributing to the trend.
Among them are declining levels of physical activity, increased consumption of fast food and processed meals, and a shift away from healthier lifestyles that were once more common.
“People walk less, people eat more out of the home, and therefore they’re subject to all kinds of additives in the food that they eat,” he lamented, noting: “Fast food is becoming more and more prevalent in Guyana.”
He also pointed to changing transportation habits, noting that many people are less inclined to walk even short distances as part of their daily routines.
In addition, Dr. Carpen said fewer households maintain kitchen gardens, reducing access to fresh produce and home-grown foods.
Another major concern, he said, is the lack of routine health screening among younger age groups.
LACK OF EARLY SCREENING
He stated, “The most important thing, unfortunately, is the lack of screening at an early age.”
To address the issue, he said efforts are being made to promote health screening and awareness from the primary and secondary school levels so that young people can identify health risks before symptoms emerge.
“We are hoping to address that by conducting health screening programmes at the primary and secondary school levels, so that we can build a healthier and more health-conscious population,” he said.
“The goal is for people to take care of themselves before symptoms occur, rather than waiting until something catastrophic happens and then turning up at the hospital,” the renowned cardiologist said.
Dr. Carpen’s remarks came as he outlined broader advancements in Guyana’s healthcare sector, including expanded cancer screening programmes, telemedicine services, drone-assisted medication delivery to remote communities, and the construction of six new regional hospitals equipped with advanced diagnostic technology.
He highlighted government-supported healthcare screening vouchers that allow citizens to access services such as pap smears, breast cancer screening and prostate cancer screening with minimal out-of-pocket expenses.
The cardiologist also pointed to the increasing use of telemedicine, which enables community health workers in hinterland and remote regions to consult specialists based in Georgetown and along the coast in real time.
Additionally, he praised recent breakthroughs in robotic surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), including a landmark tele-robotic heart surgery conducted between Guyana and India and subsequent robotic procedures performed locally.
According to Dr. Carpen, these innovations signal a transformative period for healthcare delivery in Guyana.
However, he stressed that combating the growing burden of heart disease will require greater emphasis on prevention, healthier lifestyles and early detection.
Dr. Carpen’s warning comes just weeks after he raised concerns about an emerging pattern of sudden, unexpected deaths among Guyanese in their 20s, 30s and 40s.
In a public alert issued early last month, he highlighted the growing risk of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD), a condition caused by a fatal disturbance in the heart’s electrical system that can lead to death within minutes. He noted that many victims collapse during routine activities or die in their sleep.
According to the cardiologist, artery blockages account for most cases, though heart inflammation, uncontrolled hypertension, enlarged heart muscles and certain inherited conditions can also trigger SCD.
