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Epidemiology of coronary arterial disease in the Chinese
1Department of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Insights
Coronary heart disease and acute myocardial infarction rates are significantly lower in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China compared to Western countries. However, these rates are increasing in Chinese communities, necessitating further research into modernization
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Coronary arterial disease (CAD) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) present a significant global health burden.
- Epidemiological data on CAD and AMI in Chinese populations, particularly in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and mainland China, are crucial for understanding regional health trends.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the occurrence of coronary arterial disease and acute myocardial infarction in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China.
- To compare the prevalence and mortality incidence of CAD and AMI in these Chinese communities with Western countries.
- To analyze the trends of CAD and AMI in Chinese communities and identify factors contributing to these trends.
Main Methods:
- A multifaceted approach was employed to review the occurrence of CAD and AMI.
- Data on prevalence and mortality incidence were collected and analyzed for Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China.
- Comparative analysis was conducted against data from Western countries.
Main Results:
- Prevalence and mortality incidence of CAD and AMI in the three Chinese communities are substantially lower than in most Western countries, estimated at one-eighth to one-quarter of Western figures.
- While CAD and AMI rates are declining in affluent Western nations, they are increasing in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China, affecting a population of 1.2 billion.
- Aging is identified as a contributing factor to the increasing trend, but further investigation into socioeconomic changes and coronary risk factors associated with modernization is required.
Conclusions:
- The increasing trend of coronary arterial disease and acute myocardial infarction in Chinese communities warrants significant consideration for future regional health planning.
- While aging plays a role, the impact of socioeconomic shifts and evolving coronary risk factors due to modernization needs comprehensive assessment.
- Further research is essential to fully understand and address the rising burden of cardiovascular disease in these rapidly developing regions.
Abstract:
The occurrence of coronary arterial disease and, in particular, acute myocardial infarction in three Chinese communities, namely Hong Kong, Taiwan and China, was reviewed by using a multifaceted approach. Both the prevalence and death incidence of coronary arterial disease or acute myocardial infarction were much lower than those in most western countries: in these three places, the prevalence of coronary arterial disease, the incidence of mortality from coronary arterial disease, the incidence of acute myocardial infarction and the mortality from acute myocardial infarction were roughly one-eighth to one-quarter of the average western figures. While the prevalence and mortality figures have been declining in most affluent western countries, they have been increasing in these three large Chinese communities with 1200 million people. The implication of this increasing trend should certainly deserve more consideration in future planning in these regions. While aging is a contributing factor to such a trend, more work is required to delineate and assess the relative significance of the changes in the socioeconomic and coronary risk factors in the process of modernisation.