| Abstract | Chronic heart failure is a common medical problem in Asia, especially in the elderly. Symptoms and signs are non-specific and echocardiography is the most important diagnostic test for confirmation of impaired systolic or diastolic function. In the study of Hong Kong patients with heart failure, hypertension was a major cause in women but ischaemic heart disease was an equally common cause in men. Twenty percent of patients had coexistent diabetes. Thus proper treatment of hypertension and diabetes will help in the prevention of heart failure. In fact, medical treatment of heart failure has improved considerably, especially since the introduction of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and with careful titration of drugs many patients can lead comfortable and useful lives. Many new treatments are now being assessed which may help reduce the high mortality of this condition. |
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