A recent study has made a shocking discovery that people suffering from poverty and social deprivation are more likely to develop a serious heart disease called endocarditis.
This disease occurs when an infection spreads to the inner part of the heart, especially the valves. If not diagnosed and treated promptly, it can be fatal for the heart.
According to experts, this infection usually occurs when bacteria or germs enter the blood and reach the heart. Often, these germs enter the body through teeth, skin or a wound and then form clusters on the heart valves, which affects blood flow.
The prominent symptoms of endocarditis include fever, chills, constant fatigue, difficulty breathing and irregular heartbeat. Some patients may also develop red or purple spots on their skin.
A study conducted in the UK revealed that people suffering from social deprivation are more likely to suffer from the dangerous consequences of this disease. Three major London hospitals, King’s College, Guy’s and St Thomas’ and Barts Health, have set up the London Endocarditis Research Network and have collected data on more than 1,700 patients between 2013 and 2023.
The results of the study showed that patients from deprived or poor areas were more likely to die within 30 days or a year of illness. They also had higher rates of other diseases, more inflammation in their bodies and more infections in the right side of their hearts. They were also less likely to undergo surgery and had difficulty getting to hospital or making treatment decisions.
Interestingly, the germs that caused the infection were almost the same in both rich and poor groups, but the complications were much higher in poor patients due to poverty and social neglect. It also emerged that such patients were more likely to be women and from minority groups.
Experts involved in the study said that even in a country like the UK, where everyone has free access to treatment, the poor were suffering from the worst situation. Therefore, it can be assumed that in countries where there is no free access to health facilities, the situation may be much more serious.
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