Diabetes and hyperglycaemia among patients with congestive cardiac failure in a multiethnic population

Aim. To determine the proportion of patients with congestive cardiac failure (CCF) who also have known diabetes. Method. A retrospective review was undertaken of the charts of a randomly selected 30% of patients with congestive cardiac failure without myocardial infarction, and all patients with congestive cardiac failure with myocardial infarction, who attended Middlemore Hospital between 1 October 1992-30 September 1993. Results. Congestive cardiac failure was coded as present in 1130 (15%) of admissions for 887 (16%) patients. Myocardial infarction had occurred in 106 (12%) of these cases. European patients were older, were more likely to have a past history of angina or acute myocardial infarction (38.6% vs 13.1% Maori, 4% Pacific Is, p<0.001) and less likely to have known diabetes (Europeans 17% vs 34% Maori, Pacific Is 36%, p<0.05). Among those aged 40-59 years, the proportion of Maori and Pacific Islands patients with known diabetes was around 50%. Conclusion. Diabetes is a major risk factor for congestive cardiac failure among Maori and Pacific Islands patients. In contrast with Europeans, ischaemic heart disease is an infrequent risk factor in these patients.