Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Oladipo
Akinkugbe, has warned that ischemic heart disease could be the next
epidemic in Nigeria unless drastic measures are put in place to mitigate
it.
Speaking at the 5th
edition of the Cardiovascular Summit organised by Pfizer Near (Nigeria
and East Africa Region) to raise awareness on the rising incidence of
ischemic heart diseases in Nigeria, the emeritus professor emphasised
the need for cohesive preventive measures as well as actionable
recommendations for the government.
Also known as Coronary
Artery Disease, ischemic heart disease is a condition that affects the
ability to provide adequate oxygen to heart muscle resulting in damage
to the heart muscle or heart attack (Myocardial Infarction).
According to the World
Health Organisation fact sheet, an estimated 17.3 million people
died
from CVDs in 2008, representing 30 per cent of all global deaths. Of
these deaths, an estimated 7.3 million were due to coronary heart
disease and 6.2 million were due to stroke.
Tagged ‘Ischemic Heart
Disease’, the summit provided an elaborate platform for health care
practitioners to engage in a robust discussion on the current trends in
ischemic heart disease and its management.
Speaking on the Nigerian
Perspective on Ischemic Heart Disease, Emeritus Professor of Cardiology
of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Ayodele Falase, said previous
studies in Nigeria revealed insignificant incidence of ischemic heart
disease compared with the developed countries. However, he said a 2001
study on predisposing factors to myocardial infarction in 26 cases
showed sedentary lifestyle to be the major cause of coronary heart
disease.
Attributing the rise in
the cases of ischemic heart disease in Nigeria to increase in the
standard of living, which enhanced adoption of western dietary habits,
especially amongst urban elites, Falase urged the promotion of local
diets which contain less saturated fat as well as increased physical
activity.
He observed that like
all things in Nigeria, people tend to deride Nigeria’s local diet and
regard the diet of advanced countries as superior and healthier. “The
challenge is to prevent this rise because the consequences could be
grave. We do not have the infrastructural capability to adequately cater
for it. The key is to stick to our local diets and exercise,’’ he said.
Also, Consultant
Cardiologist, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Prof.
Osaretin Odia, identified the modifiable risk factors as hypertension,
diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, cigarette smoking and obesity,
sedentary living, adding that age and gender were the non -modifiable
risk factors.
Odia, who also suggested
that Sub- Saharan Africa might be at the early phase of the
epidemiological transition of the disease, recommended increased
attention of health officials to the primary prevention of ischemic
disease, community–based control of the major risk factors, control of
hyper-cholesteronaemia via modification of dietary habits and
government‘s support especially through its food and health regulatory
agencies to curb the spread of the disease.
Earlier, Country
Manager, Pfizer NEAR, Enrico Liggeri, reiterated the company’s
commitment to education of physicians and the general public. He said
the summit was part of Pfizer’s contributions to the advancement of
medical knowledge and patient care in Nigeria and the NEAR region
(Nigeria, East Africa Region). He added that the summit exemplified
Pfizer’s commitment to world class medical education, capacity building
and excellence in service to the Nigerian health sector .
Also, the Medical Director, Pfizer NEAR,
Dr. Kodjo Soroh, said the summit was aimed at making specific
actionable recommendations for implementation by government. “We need to
get prepared for this prevailing CHD incidents and that is the essence
of this summit, to come up with some recommendations for government on
how to stop the further rise of CHD because when the epidemic happens,
we do not have the capacity to control it,’’ he noted.
-Punch
No comments:
Post a Comment