Coronary Heart Disease One of the Leading Killers of 20^th Century

Coronary heart disease is a common problem that emerged as one of the leading killers of the 20^th century. Scientists and physicians have fought hard to battle this menace which has engulfed health delivery systems the world over. More studies have been conducted in this field of medicine than any other, and sufficient evidence has emerged to broaden the chances of finding a cure to this emergent problem.

(L to R): Dr. Sajid Dhakam, Assistant Professor, Cardiology Section, Department of Medicine, AKU; Dr Javed Tai, Senior Instructor and Consultant Cardiologist, Department of Medicine, AKU; Dr. Khawar Kazmi, Associate Professor and Head of Cardiology Section, Department of Medicine, AKU; Dr. Fahim Jafary, Assistant Professor, Cardiology Section, Department of Medicine, AKU; Dr Aamir Hameed, Senior Instructor and Consultant Cardiologist, Department of Medicine, AKU.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a multifactorial disease which develops as a result of an interplay between human genes, human behaviour and the environment humans occupy. "We have identified some of the factors that are instrumental in the development of CAD such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia (increased cholesterol), family history of CAD and a sedentary lifestyle," explained Dr Javed Tai, Senior Instructor and Consultant Cardiologist, Section of Cardiology at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), while giving a presentation on Coronary Heart Disease and Predisposing Risk Factors in Karachi on August, 2004. Speaking at "Signs, Symptoms and Care", a monthly public health awareness programme organised by AKUH, Dr Tai added that "other 'novel' risk factors are still under study. Strategies to modify these risk factors have been developed and successfully tested."

Audience at ‘Signs, Symptoms and Care’ programme on 'Coronary Heart Disease and Predisposing Risk Factors'.

The cost of treating CAD, as has been discovered by even the most affluent societies, is prohibitive and as such treatment in the third world setting remains a major economic issue. Managing established CAD is now also considered a ‘late step’ while prevention is the key. A much underutilised treatment modality is diet and exercise. "We now have clear evidence that prescribed in a right and timely fashion, these modalities are powerful tools for the prevention and treatment of CAD," said Dr Aamir Hameed, Senior Instructor and Consultant Cardiologist at AKUH. As this strategy requires little in terms of money, it needs to be developed as the prime therapy at the grass-roots level, i.e. the community, in order to be effective in controlling this rampant disease.

Drs Khawar Kazmi, Sajid Dhakam, Fahim Jafary and Sohail Abrar of AKUH's Section of Cardiology participated in the question-and-answer session at the end of the programme.