EMRI 108 recorded 72,573 cardiac emergencies in 2023 which is a massive 35% higher compared to 53,700 in 2018.
The EMRI 108 data for 2023 indicated that there was more than 20% rise in cases related to breathing issues, cardiac issues and fever for both Ahmedabad city and Gujarat in a year.
In Ahmedabad, compared to 20,140 calls related to breathing issues in 2022, there were 24,890 calls or 24% more in 2023.
The city recorded 21,496 calls for cardiac issues and 13,449 calls for high fever cases– a rise of 28% and 29% respectively from last year.
Likewise, in Gujarat, the rise in cases of breathing issues in 2023 compared to 2022 was 24%, and cardiac issues and high fever 29%. Overall, Ahmedabad city recorded a 16% rise in calls compared to a 6% rise in Gujarat.
“Ahmedabad traditionally represents about 15-20% of the total calls made in Gujarat due to its relatively high population and better awareness. Across Gujarat, pregnancy-related cases and vehicular accidents form the first and second biggest causes to call 108 ambulance,” said a senior EMRI official.
“The rise can also be seen in the light of an improved network of ambulances.”
The year was marked by high prevalence of dengue and cardiac issues after sudden death cases and relatively poor air quality and respiratory illnesses, said experts.
EMRI officials said vehicular accidents are often reported in the periphery of a city or highways, and several of the emergencies were seasonal or cyclical in nature.
The ambulances in Gujarat also recorded more than 27,000 cases of poisoning in 2023, data reveals.
Year 2023, marked by eerily high prevalence of sudden deaths due to cardiac arrests, had people’s hearts in their mouths. EMRI 108 data reveals Gujarat witnessed record high cardiac emergencies in their 16-year operations in the state responding to one heart crisis call every seven and half miniutes.
Even if one considers factors such as rise in population, the state registered 29% rise in cardiac emergencies on a year-on-year basis compared to 2022 that recorded 56,277 cases.
Ahmedabad emerged at the top with 298 calls per 1 lakh population (21,496 calls), followed by 199 calls in Porbandar (1,167 calls), and 180 calls in Jamnagar and Devbhoomi Dwarka (1,981 calls).
Major city-based hospitals specialising in cardiovascular diseases confirmed the trend and acknowledged rise in sudden deaths often spurred the citizens to be more conscious of the uneasiness they felt or opted for preventive checks.
While state education minister Kuber Dindor had claimed in December that about 1,000 persons died due to cardiac arrests in Gujarat in six months, health minister Rushikesh Patel had later said that the state government does not have such data.
Hundreds of videos on social media however indicated the nature of sudden deaths where the persons did not get time to even get basic intervention. Several of these persons were below 30 years of age.
Cardiac related emergencies were the sixth highest after pregnancy, vehicular accidents, abdominal pain, non-vehicular trauma and breathing problems for the EMRI 108 services.
Also Read: Rs 23 Lakh Crore Worth Investments Pledged For Gujarat In 2 Years
