Heart failure in a multiethnic population in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
BACKGROUND
There are established differences in cardiovascular disease in different racial groups. Worldwide, the literature regarding the clinical epidemiology of congestive heart failure (CHF) in non-white populations is scarce.


OBJECTIVE
To document the prevalence of CHF in the multiracial population of Malaysia, and to describe the clinical features and management of these patients.


METHODS
Busy city centre general hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


RESULTS
Of 1435 acute medical admissions to Kuala Lumpur General Hospital over the 4-week study period, 97 patients (6.7%) were admitted with the primary diagnosis of CHF. Coronary artery disease was the main aetiology of CHF, accounting for almost half (49.5%) the patients, followed by hypertension (18.6%). However, there were variations in associated aetiological factors between ethnic groups, with diabetes mellitus affecting the majority of Indians-as well as underutilisation of standard drugs for CHF, such as the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which were only used in 43.3%.


CONCLUSIONS
Amongst acute medical admissions to a single centre in Malaysia the prevalence of CHF was 6.7%. Coronary artery disease was the major aetiological factor in heart failure accounting for almost half the admissions. The under-prescription of ACE inhibitors was similar to other clinical surveys carried out amongst Caucasian populations in the West.
Chong
Aun-Yeong
AY
University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, B18 7QH, Birmingham, UK.
Rajaratnam
Ratna
R
Hussein
Nur Run
NR
Lip
Gregory Y H
GY
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors