HGP Nightly News – Doctors are warning that heart disease in Guyana is no longer being seen only among older patients, as younger people are increasingly turning up with serious risk factors and early signs of cardiac illness.
The concern was raised on Saturday during the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s Cardiac Symposium 2026, held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre under the theme, “Healthy Hearts, Healthy Guyana: Advancing Prevention of Heart Disease.”
Director of Medical and Professional Services at GPHC, Dr. Navindranauth Rambarran, told more than 300 health professionals that heart disease remains one of the country’s leading causes of death, accounting for more than 2,000 deaths annually.
More than half of those deaths, he said, are linked to coronary artery disease.
But the trend now troubling doctors is the growing number of younger patients presenting with conditions usually associated with older age. Dr. Rambarran said health workers are seeing young individuals with hypertension, obesity, diabetes, arrhythmias, and premature coronary artery disease.
He said this is especially worrying because many of those affected are in their most productive years, placing pressure not only on the healthcare system but also on families, workplaces, and the wider economy.
Head of Cardiology and Medical Services at GPHC, Dr. Michael Chin, said Guyana continues to carry a heavy burden of heart disease because of widespread risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking, and family history of coronary artery disease.
He also noted a high prevalence of coronary artery disease among the Indo-Guyanese population.
Dr. Chin warned that by the time many patients develop chest pain, heart attacks, or heart failure, they are already dealing with advanced coronary artery disease. He said the focus must shift to finding persons with risk factors before the disease progresses.
According to him, early screening and aggressive management of risk factors are especially important for younger people.
He pointed to tools such as coronary calcium score testing and lipoprotein(a) testing, which can help detect hidden coronary artery disease in selected patients. He said elevated lipoprotein(a) is found in about 20 percent of the population and can increase the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke.
Doctors also urged the public to pay closer attention to blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, cholesterol, smoking, diet, exercise, and regular medical checkups.
GPHC nutritionist Djmilsa Lambert encouraged the use of local fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, lentils, lean chicken, and healthier oils as part of a heart-friendly diet.
Director General of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, said prevention messages must reach all regions of Guyana, while also pointing to ongoing work to strengthen regional health infrastructure and human resources.
The symposium also featured presentations on chest pain, echocardiograms, atrial fibrillation, mitral regurgitation, and premature coronary disease.
