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Epidemiology of heart failure in Hong Kong, 1997
1Hospital Planning and Development Division, Mongkok, Hong Kong.
Insights
Heart failure is a significant health issue in Hong Kong, particularly affecting the elderly. This study reveals a high mortality rate, underscoring the need for better prevention strategies for heart failure.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Cardiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) is a growing concern globally, with significant implications for healthcare systems.
- Understanding the epidemiology of HF is crucial for developing targeted interventions and public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the epidemiology of heart failure (HF) in Hong Kong during 1997.
- To determine the incidence, prevalence, and survival rates of HF patients.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study was conducted using data from accident and emergency departments of 11 Hospital Authority hospitals in Hong Kong.
- Data included demographic information, primary diagnosis of heart failure from discharge summaries, and 1-year follow-up for survival status.
- The study analyzed 4589 new and 1614 old cases of heart failure admitted in 1997.
Main Results:
- The majority of heart failure patients (85%) were over 65 years old, with the 75-84 age group being the largest.
- Heart failure incidence increased with age, doubling each decade, and was higher in women than men over 85.
- The 1-year mortality rate for heart failure was 32% overall, increasing to 40% for patients over 85 years old.
Conclusions:
- Heart failure is a prevalent condition in Hong Kong with a high mortality rate, especially among the elderly population.
- There is a critical need for further research into the causes of heart failure and the implementation of early preventive measures.
- Effective strategies are required to mitigate the impact of heart failure on public health.
Objective:
To analyse the epidemiology of heart failure in Hong Kong, 1997.
Design:
Retrospective study with 1-year follow-up.
Setting:
Accident and emergency departments of 11 hospitals of the Hospital Authority, Hong Kong.
Patients:
All patients admitted to hospital in 1997 with heart failure as the primary diagnosis, as shown in their discharge summaries.
Main Outcome Measures:
Demographic data, incidence and prevalence of heart failure, and survival status up to 1 year.
Results:
There were 4589 new and 1614 old cases of heart failure that required hospital admission in 1997. The largest age-group was the 75- to 84-year group; 85% of the patients were older than 65 years and 56% of the patients were female. The incidence of heart disease increased with age, approximately doubling with each decade of age and reaching an annual incidence of 14 per 1000 men and 20 per 1000 women older than 85 years. The 1-year mortality rate also increased with age, reaching 40% for patients older than 85 years (overall, 32%).
Conclusion:
Heart failure is a common problem and has high mortality, especially in elderly patients. Detailed analyses of the aetiology and early preventive measures are needed to alleviate the problem.