Nigeria Faces Rising Cardiovascular Disease Crisis

The burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Nigeria is increasingly concerning, with hypertension, diabetes, unhealthy lifestyles, and inadequate medical care leading to preventable deaths. This issue was emphasized during World Heart Day on September 29, organized by the World Heart Federation, under the theme “Don’t Miss a Beat.” The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that approximately 22 million Nigerians aged 30 to 79 live with hypertension, with only about 13 percent managing their blood pressure effectively.

Projections indicate that this number could rise to 39.1 million by 2030. Alarmingly, 6.8 percent of adults under 30 are also affected.

Many individuals remain unaware of their hypertension until severe complications occur, despite the condition being preventable and manageable with proper healthcare access. Nigeria has only about 400 cardiologists for a population exceeding 220 million, highlighting a significant healthcare capacity gap.

The Nigerian Cardiac Society calls for increased government efforts in cardiovascular health promotion and disease prevention.