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Editorial
Improving the delivery of coronary care for ethnic minorities
  1. K Khunti1,
  2. N J Samani2
  1. 1Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
  2. 2Division of Cardiology, University of Leicester
  1. Correspondence to:
    Professor Nilesh J Samani, Division of Cardiology, University of Leicester, Clinical Sciences Wing, Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester, LE3 9QP, UK;
    njs{at}le.ac.uk

https://doi.org/10.1136/heart.89.5.479

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    With the incidence of coronary heart disease being greater in certain ethnic communities in the UK, health professionals need to be aware of ethnic and cultural differences that may influence the presentation and behaviour of patients, in order to avoid potentially life threatening conditions being overlooked

    The UK population is now diverse with nearly 7% of patients from the minority ethnic communities.1 The incidence and prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) is higher in many of these ethnic minority communities compared to their white counterparts.2 There have been repeated concerns raised about access to appropriate health care for patients from minority groups after CHD has been diagnosed.3 There are many possible reasons that could affect access and these need to be teased out if improvements are to occur.

    In a recent issue of Heart, Barakat and colleagues4 report an interesting observational study comparing the presentation and treatment of Bangladeshi and white patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction (MI) in east London. They found no significant differences between Bangladeshi and white patients in their own interpretation of the symptoms as being potentially MI and in the time from onset of chest pain to arrival in hospital. However, once the patients …

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