Yes, but affording and needing are two different things. OK,
they might actually need them in the next 20-30 years, but
as I was trying to get across, the social structure and poor
community health system here means that preventative medicine is
almost non-existent here. I'm in a tertiary referral hospital,
and the cases we see are patients from other centres who are
in the too hard basket, and already have significant disease
processes. You and I know about an ounce of prevention...etc., but
the message hasn't gotten through over here.
As for causes of Asian and other deaths, typically, 99.9% of
deaths are cardiac related...our hearts stop for one reason or
another... eventually. The other 0.1% is from documented
brain death (from head injuries, encephalitis, politics, etc.)
Sarcasm aside, the main issue about ischaemic heart disease and
myocardial infarction, is that, as a stand alone cause of morbidity
and mortality (quality and quantity of life), it is very common
in western cultures because of lifestyle and abuse of ones self.
We place ourselves into avoidable risk categories by smoking,
eating fatty foods, not exercising, being stressed, etc, as I
outlined in a previous post in more detail.
Some other cultures, by virtue of chosen lifestyle, or by virtue
of unavoidable circumstances, do not place themselves in these
categories. A hard working Vietnamese rice farmer won't be so
likely to be fat, a heavy smoker, and eat at Kentucky Fried 3
times a week compared to Joe American businessman.
The incidence of heart disease will still be relatively high in
asian and other non-western countries, as our bodies still do
degenerate with time and we can't control our genes. But it's
the added self abuse that propels westerners to the top of the
shame list when it comes to not delaying the onset and severity
of cardiac disease.
Top 3 killer in asia ? Sure. #1, maybe still, who knows, but
it might by more like 35-40% rather than 50-60%. I really don't
know offhand.
Regardless, 35% of 1 billion chinese is still a lot of people,
and economic circumstances aside, there's a potentially large
market for cardiac screening all across the world. A lot of
people could have their lives changed, by being made aware of
their risks, and making changes which could either prevent
the onset of disease, delay the onset, and/or reduce the
severity and thus improve their quality and quantity of life.
As a last comment, you all gotta die of something. Cardiac
screening may delay the inevitable onset of disease, (or allow
you to live long enough to develop cancer or to be hit by a
runaway bus) but won't be a cure all. It will lead to positive
changes though, and in terms of cost savings/deferral, and
morbidity/mortality.
I do foresee a potentially large market for the diagnostic tools
offered by IMAT technology. There will have to be conclusive
evidence supporting the practice, and worldwide acceptance in
large qualities before you IMAT investors are ready to retire.
Plus, you've got some 500 pound gorillas in the same field (GE,
Siemens, Toshiba, etc.) that are working on the same technologies.
It's an interesting concept, and I'll continue to monitor its
progress in the future.
Regards,
Durro |
