----------------------------------A M alaysian Well Person ' s Clinic ~ Review of Patients Seen Between Apri ~ and Decembe r 1995

Lifestyle related diseases like coronary artery disease and cancer now rank among the top 5 causes of death and admissions to hospitals in Malaysia l . Preventive measures such as screening for coronary artery disease risk factors and early detection of cancer are more cost effective ways to reduce morbidity and mortality than treatment of the diseases. Screening for risk factors for cardiovascular disease has been widely adopted in western countries as a major strategy for cardiovascular disease prevention. Epidemiological research has shown that a reduction in all major risk factors is associated with a decreased incidence of premature cardiovascular disease2• Up to 90% of cancer is associated with the environment and lifestyle and death from cancer may be avoided by early detection3•