Our Purpose
Medical Director of Kentucky Heart Institute Dr. Robert Touchon, M.D., and grant writer Carol L. Fugitt. The Kentucky Heart Institute (KHI) brings national cardiovascular research studies to this region to improve the life expectancy of people affected by cardiovascular disease. The institute will be closely linked with the heart and vascular specialists associated with King's Daughters Medical Center, major pharmaceutical and device manufacturers, and research foundations.
Cardiovascular Trends
- One in three adults in the United States have cardiovascular disease.
- In our region, the Appalachian population has a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease than the U.S. as a whole.
- Overall cardiovascular mortality for our region has decreased 14 percent during the last 10 years, but it is still 28 percent higher than the national average.
- There are approximately 680,000 people within a 100-mile radius of Ashland, and the demand for heart and vascular services will continue to grow as the population ages.
Heart and vascular diseases affect the people of our region at a much higher rate than others in Kentucky, or throughout the United States. This chart shows how many people for every 1,000 are affected by heart and vascular diseases.