Cardiovascular symptoms, electrocardiographic abnormalities, and associated risk factors in an elderly Chinese population.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of angina and possible infarct (WHO cardiovascular questionnaire) and electrocardiographic abnormalities (Minnesota Coding) in elderly Chinese subjects aged 70+ years living in Hong Kong, and the association with some cardiovascular risk factors. A subsample of 197 subjects (96 men, 101 women) selected according to geographical area from a territory-wide health survey consisting of 2032 elderly subjects selected by an age and sex stratified random sampling method was studied. Overall, 7% of men and 9% of women had symptoms suggestive of angina, while 6% of men and 4% of women had symptoms suggestive of possible infarct. There were fewer symptoms in the 80+ age group. Forty-two percent of men and 35% of women had normal electrocardiograms. The prevalence of probable ischaemic heart disease (using the Whitehall Criteria) was 6% for men and 7% for women, while the figures for possible disease were 23% and 25%, respectively. The percentage with abnormalities increased with age. The prevalence of coronary heart disease defined by the presence of symptoms, a history of known disease plus use of medication, and electrocardiographic abnormalities suggestive of probable disease, was 26% for men and 27% for women. These findings were comparable with studies in elderly Caucasian populations. Only a higher socioeconomic grouping and lower HDL cholesterol were identified as associated risk factors. It is concluded that the prevalence of coronary heart disease in the elderly Chinese population in Hong Kong is at least as high in Caucasian populations, and few modifiable risk factors were identified in the elderly aged 70 years and over.