Almost 9 thousand people died from heart disease in Ireland last year, according to the Irish Heart Foundation, which says it killed more woman in 2020 than breast, cervical and ovarian cancer combined.
The charity is due before a Health Committee today.
The foundation says chronic heart disease patients make up 44 per cent of covid deaths in Ireland.
CEO of the Irish Heart Foundation, Tim Collins, says the pandemic has also had a major impact on diagnosis:
