ES Contemporary multimodality non-invasive cardiac imaging protocols for tetralogy of Fallot

Haifa Abdul Latiff, Boekhren Karyostyko Borhanuddin, Ming Chen Leong

 Hyun Woo Goo, Shyh-Jye Chen, Suvipaporn Siripornpitak, Haifa Abdul Latiff, Boekhren Karyostyko Borhanuddin, Ming Chen Leong, Yu Min Zhong & Young Jin Kim.

Published: Pediatr Radiol 23 May 2024 epub

Background

This study shines a light on a growing concern in Malaysia—more and more younger people are being diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD), a serious heart condition. When CAD happens earlier in life, it’s known as Premature Coronary Artery Disease (PCAD). To understand what’s causing this trend, researchers studied health data from over 29,000 Malaysian patients who had undergone a heart treatment procedure called Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI).

Key Findings:

Younger Age, Higher Risk:

The patients were grouped by age to understand who’s getting PCAD. Alarmingly, many Malaysians were found to develop heart disease at a much younger age (under 45–65 years) than people in other countries.

Main Health Culprits:

• The biggest threats to heart health among these younger individuals were:
• High LDL cholesterol – often called the “bad” cholesterol, which can clog arteries.
• High total cholesterol levels.
• High blood pressure (hypertension) – which silently damages the heart and blood vessels over time.

Other Risky Business:

• Several other lifestyle and genetic factors were also closely linked to early heart disease:
• Smoking – a well-known heart hazard.
• Obesity – excess weight puts extra strain on the heart.
• Family history – if close relatives had PCAD, the risk goes up.
• Malay ethnicity – this group, in particular, showed a higher risk.

A Malaysian Concern:

• Compared to international studies, Malaysia had a higher proportion of younger CAD patients. This suggests that Malaysians might be facing heart issues earlier than people elsewhere, raising red flags for public health.

Conclusion

The study paints a clear picture: heart disease is no longer just an older person’s problem in Malaysia. It’s knocking on the doors of people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. The main drivers—bad cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, and genetics—are known enemies of heart health. But the good news? These risks can often be prevented or managed early. With better awareness, early check-ups, and healthier lifestyles, we can help turn the tide on premature heart disease in Malaysia.