A leading Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeon at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Dr. Isaac Okyere has revealed heart disease as Ghana’s most deadly health threat affecting both men and women. Speaking at the “Legacy of the Fathers” health forum organized by Balm Of Gilead ALT Clinic with Ghana Police and Prisons Service, the specialist delivered sobering statistics showing hypertension affects 40% of adults in the Ashanti Region, with research indicating a 37.4% prevalence rate.
The surgeon explained that while heart disease affects all genders, men face particular vulnerability due to biological factors and lifestyle habits including alcohol consumption, smoking, and poor dietary choices. These factors cause men to typically develop cardiovascular conditions at younger ages than women.
Dr. Okyere emphasized hypertension stands as the primary cause of cardiac arrest nationwide. He urgently called for regular medical check-ups and healthier lifestyle choices as critical preventive measures. The health forum served to educate attendees about proactive heart care amidst Ghana’s growing cardiovascular disease burden.
With non-communicable diseases now surpassing infectious diseases as the country’s leading cause of death, medical experts warn these findings demand immediate public health attention and policy action to address what has become a national health crisis.
The Ashanti Region’s exceptionally high hypertension rates, far exceeding global averages, highlight the particular urgency for community health interventions and awareness campaigns across Ghana.
Agnes Frimpomaa Dwenim
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