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The average annual incidence in a patients admitted to hospital with ischaemic heart disease is lower among Maori than non-Maori but Maori females under 55 years are particularly susceptible. The age adjusted incidence in this group is twice that of white females. One-third of Maori patients had auricular fibrillation and large hearts and it is suggested that these patients have cardiomyopathy, probably alcohol induced, in addition to ischaemic heart disease. This group had the highest hospital mortality rate, 43%. The 30% hospital mortality rate among all Maori is three times that of non-Maori. Risk factors examined in the Maori included obesity (present in 65%), diabetes (in 30%), gout (in 23%) and hypertension (in 17%) of patients with ischaemic heart disease.

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