Congenital and acquired heart diseases: (A survey of 7062 persons)

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases represent a significant global health burden.
• Understanding the prevalence and distribution of specific heart conditions in diverse populations is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of various heart diseases in Dacca city and a rural village.
• To investigate the demographic associations, particularly age and socioeconomic status, with different types of heart disease.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 7062 participants of varying age groups.
• Data collection involved identifying individuals with specific heart conditions, including hypertension, rheumatic heart disease, ischemic heart disease, cardiac arrhythmia, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and cor pulmonale.

Main Results:

• Overall, 2.92% of the surveyed population (207 individuals) had some form of heart disease.
• Hypertension was observed in 1.10% of participants.
• Rheumatic heart disease (0.75%), ischemic heart disease (0.33%), cardiac arrhythmia (0.22%), congenital heart disease (0.18%), and cardiomyopathy/cor pulmonale (0.25%) were also detected.
• Rheumatic heart disease was more prevalent in younger, poorer individuals.
• Ischemic heart disease showed a higher incidence in well-to-do individuals, though not exclusively.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights the varying prevalence of different heart diseases within the Dacca population.
• Socioeconomic factors and age play a role in the distribution of rheumatic and ischemic heart diseases.
• These findings underscore the need for tailored public health strategies addressing heart disease in different demographic groups.