Characterization of outpatients with systolic dysfunction in a Japanese community by total enumeration.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of congestive heart failure (CHF) is increasing with the aging of the community. Management of patients with systolic dysfunction (SD) is important for prevention of CHF, but there is little information regarding the burden of SD on Japanese communities.


RESULTS
In order to delineate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of SD patients, the medical records of patients from Sado Island were collected and summarized in 2003. From the 5 years prior to 2003, data for 497 patients were extracted. The mortality rate was significantly higher compared with the general population; and the total number of survivors had decreased to 410 by 2003. The proportion of SD patients in the general population increased sharply after the age of 65 years in males and 70 years in females, reaching 3.3% and 1.7% for men and women, respectively, in their 80 s. In 49% of the patients, the Charlson comorbidity index was > or = 2, whereas 24% of females led a solitary life.


CONCLUSIONS
The total count of outpatients with SD is progressively increasing with age. These patients have multiple comorbidities, making the outcome of SD a poor one. The gender difference in disease characteristics and living conditions should be taken into consideration when establishing preventive strategies for CHF in Japanese communities.
Okura
Yuji
Y
Division of Cardiology, First Department of Internal Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Asahimachi, Niigata, Japan. okuray@med.niigata-u.ac.jp
Ohno
Yukiko
Y
Suzuki
Keisuke
K
Taneda
Koji
K
Ramadan
Mahmoud M
MM
Mitsuma
Wataru
W
Tanaka
Komei
K
Kashimura
Takeshi
T
Ito
Masahiro
M
Ishizuka
Osamu
O
Kato
Kiminori
K
Hanawa
Haruo
H
Honda
Yasuyuki
Y
Kodama
Makoto
M
Aizawa
Yoshifusa
Y
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006306:Health Surveys; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D015995:Prevalence; D015996:Survival Rate; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality