Cardiac arrest report - Government must heed task force

DESPITE ruling out a mass screening programme, the national task force report on sudden cardiac death leaves no doubt that heart attacks are a major killer in Ireland.

While the study says there is insufficient evidence to support nationwide screening, the disease claims the lives of around 5,000 people every year, mainly from middle age onwards. Ways of preventing heart attacks are well known and hinge on lifestyle decisions like tackling smoking, obesity and high cholesterol levels.

Though a countrywide programme may have be ruled out, there is a compelling case for the State to increase funding of cardiac medicine and research.