Cardiovascular Diseases

Factsheet

Key Facts

• CVDs are the number 1 cause of death globally: more people die annually from CVDs than from any other cause.
• An estimated 17.7 million people died from CVDs in 2015, representing 31% of all global deaths. Of these deaths, an estimated 7.4 million were due to coronary heart disease and 6.7 million were due to stroke .
• Over three quarters of CVD deaths take place in low- and middle-income countries.
• Out of the 17 million premature deaths (under the age of 70) due to noncommunicable diseases in 2015, 82% are in low- and middle-income countries, and 37% are caused by CVDs.
• Most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by addressing behavioural risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol using population-wide strategies.
• People with cardiovascular disease or who are at high cardiovascular risk (due to the presence of one or more risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia or already established disease) need early detection and management using counselling and medicines, as appropriate.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are often called "silent killers" because heart attacks and strokes are a common first warning sign of an underlying disease. High blood pressure is the most frequent and most important risk factor for CVDs. Its prevalence is estimated to be about 20 million in the African Region.

The most common symptom of coronary artery disease is angina. Angina is often described as a pressure, heaviness, discomfort, aching, burning or a painful feeling in the chest. The symptoms can often be mistaken for indigestion or heartburn.

Behavioural risk factors are responsible for about 80% of coronary heart disease and stroke. The major causes of cardiovascular diseases are tobacco use, physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet and harmful use of alcohol. CVDs occur almost equally between men and women.

Raised blood pressure, raised cholesterol, and overweight and obesity are often outcomes of inadequate lifestyles in the Region. The reduction of salt in the diet, consuming fruits and vegetables, and managing stress are effective ways to reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases.

Other CVDs include peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease and heart failure. Poverty, lack of education, and unplanned urbanization can increase exposure to cardiovascular risk factors.