PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Molly Teoh
AU  - Susan Lalondrelle
AU  - Michael Roughton
AU  - Richard Grocott-Mason
AU  - Simon W Dubrey
TI  - Acute coronary syndromes and their presentation in Asian and Caucasian patients in Britain
AID  - 10.1136/hrt.2006.091900
DP  - 2007 Feb 01
TA  - Heart
PG  - 183--188
VI  - 93
IP  - 2
4099  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/93/2/183.short
4100  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/93/2/183.full
SO  - Heart2007 Feb 01; 93
AB  - Objective: To describe and compare demographics and symptom presentation in Asian and Caucasian patients with acute coronary syndromes. Design: Long-term prospective survey of symptom presentations in two racial groups. Setting: A London hospital. Participants: A consecutive series of patients admitted to hospital with acute coronary syndromes between November 2001 and November 2005. Main outcome measure: Comparison of demographics and location, character, intensity and symptom distribution at presentation between Asian and Caucasian patients. Results: Asian patients were younger than Caucasian patients (61 v 69 years, p<0.001) and more had diabetes (43% v 17%, p<0.001). Proportionally, more Asian patients had angina (51% v 37%, p<0.001), but more Caucasian patients had myocardial infarction (63% v 49%, p<0.001) and non-ST elevation infarcts (40% v 29%, p<0.001). Men reported smaller areas of discomfort than women. Asian patients more frequently reported discomfort over the rear of their upper bodies compared to Caucasian patients (46% v 25%, p<0.001) and radiation of discomfort to their arms and necks. A higher percentage of Asian than Caucasian patients demonstrated a “classical” location of symptoms (90% v 82%, p<0.001). Patients with diabetes were more likely to feel no discomfort. A higher percentage of Caucasian than Asian patients presented with “silent” events (13% v 6%, p>0.001), with age being a major determinant. Conclusion: Asian patients were younger, more likely to be diabetic and tended to report a higher intensity of pain and over a greater area of their body, and more frequent discomfort over the rear of their upper thorax than Caucasian patients.