Emerging Trends in the Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases in the Southeast Region of Nigeria

Abstract

Background and Objective: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are leading causes of non-communicable diseases and are increasingly becoming the major causes of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. Published literature on the changing patterns and outcome of CVD admissions in the southeast region of Nigeria is scanty. This study, therefore, set out to bridge this gap in knowledge.
 Subjects and Methods: This was a 10-year retrospective descriptive study in which data about patients admitted on account of the CVDs to the medical wards of Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba from May 1, 2007 to April 30, 2017 were extracted from the Admission/Discharge registers in the medical wards. Relevant data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 software.
 Results: A total of 2044 patients were admitted because of CVDs, made up of 927 (45.4%) males and 1117 (54.6%) females. Cerebrovascular disease (stroke), heart failure (HF) and uncontrolled systemic hypertension (SHTN) were the major cardiovascular indications for hospitalization at 44.08%, 38.85% and 15.31% respectively. With an overall CVD mortality of 24.9% of the medical admissions, the commonest cause of CVD deaths was stroke. Majority of the CVD deaths (70.9%) occurred within the first 7 days of hospitalization
 Conclusion: Contribution of cardiovascular diseases to medical admissions is considerable in Aba, Southeast Nigeria. In-patient mortality of the CVDs is high especially from stroke. It is recommended that every effort should be made to control the modifiable risk factors of CVDs while early detection and treatment of CVDs be effected.
 Keywords: Aba, cardiovascular diseases, medical wards, non-communicable diseases, Southeast, Nigeria

Obesity in Nigerian Adults and the Associated Cause and Impact on the Population

“…The high rate of obesity led to an increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes mellitus (WHO, 2020). Estimated 5.8% (n= 6 million) of Nigerians adults were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in 2018 with a consequential impact on the mortality rate [10]. According to the WHO (2021), NCDs accounted for nearly 30% of all deaths in Nigeria of which 3% related to diabetes and 12% CVD [11].…”

“…Nigerian males were more occupied with work during the day and consumed less meals. Also, the work stimulated the males being physically active, burned calories effectively and thereby prevented weight gain[10]. For those reasons, the study showed the number of Nigerian males diagnosed with obesity was lower than in females[2].…”