The burden of heart failure (HF) on our healthcare system is enormous. Almost 1 in 20 people in Singapore suffer from HF and hospitalisation rates for HF continue to increase with time. Moreover, compared to European and American populations, HF patients in Singapore are more than 10 years younger, have a longer length of stay and increased in-hospital mortality.
Ischemic heart disease, which is the leading cause of HF, remains in the top 3 principal causes of death as well as hospitalisation in Singapore. In addition, risk factors for HF and coronary artery disease such as physical inactivity, diabetes, hypertension and smoking are very common.
There is an opportunity to intervene at an early stage and halt the progression of these risk factors, ultimately reducing the risk of HF in the future. Primary prevention enables holistic cardiovascular (CV) risk factor control and improvement of physical fitness.
Identifying high risk individuals without established heart disease allows prompt initiation of medication such as aspirin, as well as early detection and treatment of silent disease.
Finally, increasing physical activity in this high risk population by imparting knowledge on how to exercise safely leads to individuals reaping the multitude of benefits of exercise, including reduction of CV death, CV disease and HF.
You are eligible for our programme if you are:
• Between 40 to 60 years old
• Not known to have any established heart disease (eg. Coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathy)
• Have diabetes mellitus
• Have blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg
• Are currently smoking cigarettes
• Have high cholesterol (Total Cholesterol: HDL ratio >/= 4.5)
• Able to exercise
• Able to provide informed consent
You are NOT suitable for our programme if you are:
• Already known to have heart disease (eg. History of heart attack or heart failure)
• Having an abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Unable to exercise due to any impairment
• Unable to provide informed consent
Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology
National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS)
