Abuja, Nigeria – Cardiologists have raised alarm over a growing epidemic of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Nigeria and across Africa, warning that the continent has the fastest-rising rate of heart-related illnesses globally.
At a press briefing on Monday ahead of the 54th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Cardiac Society (NCS), held in partnership with the Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR), experts revealed that about four in ten Nigerian adults are hypertensive. The five-day event, themed “Cost-effective Interventions to Mitigate the Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases in Africa,” runs from September 15–19 in Abuja.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), CVDs remain the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for an estimated 17.7 million deaths annually—31% of all global deaths. More than three-quarters of these fatalities occur in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria.
Rising Hypertension Rates in Nigeria
The President of NCS, Prof. Augustine Odili, described the burden of cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria as alarming, linking it to the increasing prevalence of hypertension.
“Seven years ago, we conducted a nationwide survey across the six geopolitical zones. We discovered that nearly four out of every ten Nigerian adults are hypertensive,” Odili said.
“Hypertension was once just two to three percent, then rose to 11 percent, and now it is significantly higher. It is a major driver of stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, and other cardiovascular conditions.”
Odili blamed poor lifestyle choices such as lack of exercise, rising obesity, and weak public health systems for worsening the crisis.
Africa’s Alarming Trend
The President of PASCAR, Prof. Elijah Ogola, stressed that Africa’s cardiovascular disease crisis is the fastest growing in the world.
“In Kenya, for example, more than 50% of hospital admissions in public facilities are for cardiovascular diseases,” Ogola noted. “The troubling part is that these conditions are increasing even though Africa is still battling communicable diseases.”
Heart Disease in Women
Highlighting another concern, Prof. Kamilu Karaye, Consultant Cardiologist at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and Professor of Medicine at Bayero University, warned about peripartum cardiomyopathy—a life-threatening heart condition affecting women after childbirth.
“In Northwestern Nigeria, many women develop this condition after delivery, leading to heart enlargement and reduced pumping ability,” Karaye said.
He attributed the rise to prolonged or closely spaced pregnancies, poverty, and poor nutrition, noting that awareness remains dangerously low.
Conference Activities and Public Engagement
The Abuja conference includes pre-event workshops on interventional cardiology, open-heart surgery, and training young doctors in research and publication. One of the highlights is a Basic Life Support (BLS) instructor programme, aimed at teaching health workers and the public cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
“We are inviting all Abuja residents to attend free CPR training at the Yar’Adua Centre,” Odili announced. “You don’t need to be a doctor. Anyone can save a life during sudden cardiac arrest instead of just standing by.”
He emphasized that preventing hypertension and diabetes through lifestyle changes would reduce the need for expensive medical interventions.
