SSA's Heart Attack Code Initiative Transforms Cardiac Care

The deployment of the Código Infarto (Heart Attack Code) protocol across more than 200 healthcare facilities in Mexico is revolutionizing cardiac care within the country. This initiative is demonstrating the effectiveness of collaborative protocols in saving lives and mitigating the burden of cardiovascular diseases on the healthcare system and society at large.

Recognizing common heart attack symptoms such as chest pain or discomfort, cold sweats, and neurological reactions, the protocol initiates at primary healthcare units, as reported by Mexico’s Ministry of Health (SSA). General practitioners conduct an electrocardiogram, transmitting it to specialists for immediate analysis. Upon confirmation, patients are swiftly transferred to specialized hospitals for treatment. Furthermore, each hospital is intended to be equipped with a ‘heart attack box' to facilitate thrombolysis when necessary, enhancing response efficiency.

Implemented within SSA’s units, the protocol has already attended to 885 patients in 2023, with a notable success rate. Código Infarto operates as a collaborative effort involving various federal institutes and hospitals, focusing on prompt diagnosis and treatment for heart attack patients. The protocol has shown promising outcomes, with timely coronary angioplasty performed in 44% of cases, while 27.7% required fibrinolysis and angioplasty.

Research indicates that viral illnesses can have long-term cardiovascular impacts, potentially increasing the risk of heart attacks even years after infections such as SARS, influenza, and notably, COVID-19. About 20% of COVID-19 survivors exhibited cardiac abnormalities, sparking concerns regarding potential post-infection heart attack risks, according to Arturo Orea, Head of the Cardiology Service, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases 'Dr. Ismael Cosío Villegas'.