Over 20.5 million die of heart disease yearly

The Nigerian Cardiac Society (NCS) has disclosed that 20.5 million people worldwide die of heart-related diseases annually.

The NCS stated that the number of cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths is expected to rise to over 23 million by 2030.

Of the number released by the NCS, over 75 per cent were recorded in low- and middle-income countries.

Prof. Augustine Odili, the President of the Society, in a press statement to mark the 2024 World Heart Day themed “#UseHeartforAction#,” explained that the day is set aside to combat the scourge of heart disease and promote heart health.

“There is an astronomical increase in the prevalence of heart disease and its risk factors, coupled with the exponential rise in associated mortality and morbidity in developing countries, which is a major cause for concern,” he said.

He posited that most countries still don’t prioritise heart health and that 80 per cent of premature deaths from CVD can be prevented by small lifestyle adjustments.

He pointed out that a healthy diet, physical activities such as brisk walking, cycling, jogging, and effective stress management, among others, could greatly improve heart health.

He said, “the Nigerian Cardiac Society will continue to step up the campaign until 2026, under the theme of: ‘Use Heart for Action,’ to support individuals in caring for their hearts, urging leaders to take cardiovascular health seriously by providing a global platform for action.”

He advised governments to shift attention from awareness to empowering individuals with a clear purpose and goal.

The expert in heart diseases posited that a cardiovascular health plan acts as a strategic tool for reducing premature deaths from CVD, while also cutting healthcare costs and productivity losses, saving hundreds of billions of dollars annually worldwide.

He described CVDs as a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels, including coronary heart disease, heart failure, kidney disease, strokes, peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, and other conditions.

“The rising prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, especially in developing countries like Nigeria, is becoming alarming, and this is not unconnected to rapid urbanization, an increase in air pollution, and lifestyle issues.

“A disproportionately alarming rate of almost eight out of every ten deaths occurring due to cardiovascular diseases in low-income countries is, therefore, a call for serious concern,” he enjoined.

He listed some of the risk factors for heart disease to include lifestyle choices such as lack of physical exercise, smoking tobacco, consuming alcohol, and eating unhealthy diets rich in salt and saturated fats and low in fresh fruits and vegetables.

He explained that these behavioural risk factors may eventually lead to other cardiovascular risks such as high blood pressure, high blood lipids/cholesterol (dyslipidemia), overweight and obesity, and diabetes mellitus.

“Hypertension is the most common risk factor for heart disease and stroke in Nigeria,” adding: “Sadly, three out of every ten adult Nigerians have high blood pressure, many of whom are unaware of their hypertensive status,” he said.

The expert advised effective blood pressure control as a major panacea for reducing the cardiovascular risk of affected people.

He lamented that only about seven per cent of hypertensive individuals have been shown to achieve effective blood pressure control in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries.

“It follows, therefore, that to maintain good health, we must be mindful of the daily lifestyle choices we make. Making the right decisions keeps you healthy and prevents premature deaths from stroke and heart disease.

“There is also the need for a strategic plan to tackle the myriad of risk factors and prevent their evolution in the population.

“High-level decision-makers are needed to make a difference, even though everyone must be an influencer: professional bodies, including the Nigerian Cardiac Society, the patients, and the public,” he said.

Odili appealed to people to make the right decisions to enhance cardiovascular health and act with courage in making the right decisions while helping the community think correctly about cardiovascular health.