金沢大學医薬保健研究域医学系Cardiac diseases are one of the major causes of death both in Western countries and in Japan. Based on various clinical information, identification of myocardial ischemia and contractile function plays a major role in predicting serious cardiac events of death and acute coronary syndromes. Currently, myocardial perfusion imaging provides both kinds of information, and clinical follow-up studies have been performed in the U.S., Europe and Japan. Due to our involvement in a Japanese multi-center prognostic study, we have found similarities and differences between Western and Japanese populations. The most important predictors of cardiac events are myocardial perfusion abnormality and ventricular function. The importance of diabetes and chronic kidney disease should be also emphasized. The trends of cardiovascular events should be carefully investigated because of westernized diets and lifestyles in addition to current progress of therapeutic strategy
