Systolic dysfunction in urban Japan

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Heart failure (HF) is a growing concern in aging populations.
• Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is a primary cause of HF.
• Characterizing LVSD patients is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize adult outpatients (45-84 years) with LVSD in urban Niigata City.
• To compare LVSD patient characteristics between urban (Niigata) and rural (Sado) Japanese communities.
• To identify demographic and comorbidity patterns associated with LVSD.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 1,297 patients with LVSD (ejection fraction ≤50%) from 87,953 echocardiography records.
• Data collected over a 5-year period from 15 hospitals in Niigata City.
• Comparison of LVSD patient profiles between urban Niigata and rural Sado populations.

Main Results:

• LVSD prevalence increases with age, reaching 1-2% in individuals ≥75 years.
• Common comorbidities included hypertension (47%), myocardial ischemia (41%), and atrial fibrillation (34%).
• Niigata patients were younger and had a higher prevalence of comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, cerebral stroke) than Sado patients.

Conclusions:

• The rising prevalence of LVSD with age suggests a potential future epidemic.
• Distinct patient characteristics and disease patterns exist between urban and rural settings.
• Tailored preventive strategies for HF may be necessary for different community types.