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Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals
Hong KongHealth & Environment

Hong Kong survey finds more than 1 in 10 heading for heart diseases, while percentage of overweight residents increases

  • People can lower their risk level by not smoking, controlling hypertension, cholesterol or diabetes
  • Year-long screenings found 114 in every 1,000 people aged 30 to 74 at risk of cardiovascular diseases

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A survey finds more than one in 10 Hongkongers are heading for a heart attack. Photo: Shutterstock
Sammy Heung
More than one in 10 Hongkongers are at risk of cardiovascular diseases over the next decade unless they make lifestyle changes to get well, the city’s health authorities have warned.

They advised Hongkongers to get themselves checked regularly and take action to avoid a heart attack, heart failure or stroke, among various conditions.

The Department of Health conducted physical screenings of 2,072 residents aged 15 to 84 between March 2021 and February last year and released the findings last week.

Comparing the outcomes with similar checks in 2014-15, there was little change in the proportions with diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol while more were found to be overweight or not exercising enough.

Some Hong Kong residents are going to have to make lifestyle changes to avoid cardiovascular disease. Photo: Shutterstock
Some Hong Kong residents are going to have to make lifestyle changes to avoid cardiovascular disease. Photo: Shutterstock

Commenting on the results on Friday, Dr Rita Ho Ka-wai, head of the Centre for Health Protection’s non-communicable disease branch, said 14.5 per cent of those aged 30 to 74 were found with 20 per cent or higher risks of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, stroke and heart failure over the coming decade.

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