About 1 million Chinese people die of acute myocardial infarct each year, but only 1 percent of the country’s hospitals can provide emergency medical treatment to patients, according to information released at a recent international medical forum in Beijing.
Wang Lefeng, doctor of the Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, said that in China, there are 50 acute coronary cases in every 100,000 people. Categorized as acute coronary syndrome are unstable angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarct, cardiogenic sudden death, and malignant arrhythmia. The death rate is extremely high if on-time medical treatment is not available.
Acute coronary syndrome often attacks the patient in emergency and develops very fast. It’s necessary to give the patient early treatment. Many of China’s heart disease centers and chest pain centers in big cities have taken steps to offer 24-hour emergency or Green Tunnel service.
Nevertheless, Dr. Wang said, only 1 percent of China’s hospitals can provide such service, which is much lower than the rate of 30 percent in Western countries. He suggested giving doctors at grass-root hospitals better training so as to lower the death rate of this disease.
The doctor also pointed out that public awareness and prevention is of great significance. He added that obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, hyperlipemia and diabetes are factors that may lead to acute coronary syndrome.
(China.org.cn by Li Liangdu, January 17, 2003)
