Heart failure diagnosis is four times higher in the most economically disadvantaged communities and twice as high among South Asians, concludes a new study undertaken at the University of Leicester.
The doctoral research Failing Hearts – does race matter? Epidemiology of heart failure in a multi-ethnic population from Dr Hanna Blackledge, in the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Leicester, is believed to be the first to examine the situation in different ethnic and socioeconomic communities. The study says that there has been a threefold increase of hospitalisation for heart failure over the last two decades in the population – with the more disadvantaged population experiencing a higher rate of disease and mortality. The study also emphasises the importance of effective heart failure diagnosis and treatment. Commenting on the report, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, Iain Squire said: “This research makes an important contribution to what we know about heart failure in a typical Western, industrialised society. In addition to demonstrating the overall magnitude of this increasingly important public health issue, the research shows the burden of illness in specific groups in our population, in particular ethnic minority, or socio-economically deprived patients. Public Health policy and health service provision will be informed and guided by Dr Blackledge’s work”
