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.

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

SETTING: 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%.

CONCLUSION: 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.