India to have 60 per cent of world's heart patients by 2010

India is expected to account for 60 per cent of the world's heart disease cases in the world within the next two years, warn researchers.

The research team, comprising Indian and Canadian researchers, has suggested that improving the access to treatment can prevent the condition.

The researchers examined approximately 21,000 heart attack patients admitted in 89 hospitals in 50 cities across the country.

The study was published in the journal Lancet.

"As the Indian economy grows, there is a possibility of further increases in cardiovascular disease, before we see a decline similar to that being witnessed in developed countries," Lancet quoted United States cardiologist Kim Eagle as saying.

Though the risk factors related to heart disease including tobacco use, high levels of lipids in the blood due to diets rich in saturated fat and hypertension were the same in India as elsewhere, the access to health care was poor.

The report also said, "Few patients used an ambulance to reach the hospital. Most used private or public transport due to financial problems."

On an average, it takes around 300 minutes to reach a hospital, which is double the time taken in rich nations. Also, people living in poverty restrain from routine treatments and using surgical procedures, as it costs them more.