Heart disease big killer in Padang

PADANG, West Sumatra: Heart disease was the cause of death for about one in every three people in West Sumatra, a doctor said on Friday.

Asnil, an expert from the Dr M Djamil Hospital, said research in 2000 by Andalas University showed about 1,600 people in West Sumatra were known to have died from heart disease annually. The province has 4.2 million people.

Some 400 of the deaths occurred before patients received medical care, he said.

Asnil said the number of visitors with heart problems to the cardiac care center had increased from 17,000 people in 2002 to 23,500 in 2003. --Antara