Heart Failure in Different Asian Populations

Abstract

Heart failure prevalence is increasing in most Asian countries as in other parts of the world. The pattern of heart failure is different in some ways from the other regions. Patients are generally younger by 10 years, the heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is less common, in-hospital and long-term mortality is higher, use of guideline-directed medical therapy is less common and devices are implanted less frequently in most Asian countries. The socioeconomic conditions in different Asian countries are variable and that effects the drug and device usage in this condition.

Many national registries are available from different countries in Asia and are discussed here. Asian countries participate in some international registries like the Inter CHF study, and there are registries only from various Asian countries like the ASIAN HF registry.

Hypertension is an important risk factor for heart failure. Initially there is a diastolic dysfunction and left ventricular hypertrophy. Later patients develop HFpEF. Still later the ejection fraction is reduced. In fact, hypertension and diabetes are the most important risk factors for heart failure in India and many other Asian countries. Data from Asian registries is discussed here and it points out the peculiarities of heart failure in different countries regarding the presentation, causes and prognosis.