Coronary risk factors in Malaysia: precious little is known, ... still.

Cardiovascular disease, in parricular coronary artery and other atherosclerotic diseases, is the main cause of death in many developed countries. In developing countries such as Malaysia, cardiovascular diseases may not be the number one cause of deaths at the moment. However, it has been estimated that by the year 2020 there will be tremendous changes in disease patterns and demography that cardiovascular disease will be the main cause of death in these countries and will remain the main cause of death in developed countries'. Over the past three to four 'decades, there has been a phenomenal progress in the understanding of this disease due to the considerable rapport between basic scientists, clinicians, clinician scientists, statisticians, epidemiologists, communities as well as governments in an effort to overcome this modern scourge of the human race. This has led to remarkable successes in not only treating the disease bur also preventing it altogether or controlling its natural history'. However, the battle is not yet over3 and for some countries it is perhaps just beginning •