Coronary heart disease, stroke and lung disease ranked top global killers

Coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and lung disease have remained the leading causes of death worldwide for the past four years, according to an analysis of data.

The World Health Expectancy Rankings- a database of global health and life expectancy, revealed that the diseases accounted for about 4.5 million deaths in 2020, rising to 77.9 million in 2024.

CHD deaths increased from 2.2 million in 2020 to 37.8 million in 2024. This alarming increase represents a growing global health crisis, largely driven by lifestyle factors such as unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, smoking and untreated hypertension or diabetes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines coronary heart disease as a condition that occurs when the blood vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle become narrowed or blocked due to a build-up of fatty deposits, known as atherosclerosis. This blockage reduces blood flow to the heart and can lead to chest pain (angina), heart attack or other serious heart complications.

In Kenya, the situation mirrors this global trend, with cardiovascular disease emerging as a leading cause of death. Factors such as urbanisation, poor diet and sedentary lifestyles have contributed to an increase in risk factors such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes.

Similarly, access to healthcare is still a major challenge, particularly in rural areas where diagnostic and treatment facilities are limited.

"Many public hospitals lack the resources to manage complex cardiovascular disease, and awareness of preventive measures remains low. There is an urgent need for targeted public health campaigns, investment in healthcare infrastructure and improved access to care to address this growing problem," said Dr Evans Bosire, a consultant cardiologist.

Stroke, the second leading cause of death worldwide, showed a significant increase from about 1.5 deaths in 2020 to 26.4 million deaths in 2024, underscoring the growing global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which now kill more people than infectious diseases in many countries.

In Kenya, stroke is becoming a major health concern, mainly due to high rates of hypertension and diabetes, both significant risk factors for stroke. Early detection, education and accessible treatment of these conditions could significantly reduce stroke-related mortality.

The data shows that stroke remains the leading cause of death in Kenya, with a death rate of 92 per 100,000 people, ranking 81st in the world, with over 25,000 deaths largely due to a lack of neurologists and emergency medical services.

"Early detection of stroke is critical to improving patient outcomes and time is always of the essence in treatment. As a country, we have a significant need in this area and a significant gap that needs to be addressed by providing training opportunities," said Dr Tasneem Yamani, a geriatrician at Hamat Healthcare.

Lung disease, the third leading cause of death, also shows a dramatic increase in deaths, rising from 795,913 deaths to about 13.7 million deaths in the same period. This increase is linked to factors such as air pollution, smoking and respiratory infections. The disease kills Kenyans at a rate of 26.82 per 100,000 people.

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