Study Reveals High Rate of Undiagnosed Heart Disease

A recent analysis of national health data warns that a significant portion of Kenyan adults may be living with undiagnosed cardiovascular disease, putting them at elevated risk for heart-related complications. Researchers found that only 45.6% of adults met the criteria for ideal cardiovascular health based on seven risk factors — including blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose levels, diet, physical activity, smoking, and BMI. This suggests that more than half of the population might have suboptimal cardiovascular health, even if they appear outwardly healthy.
Another recent study reveals that prehypertension — a precursor to full-blown high blood pressure — affects over 54% of Kenyan adults, according to data from the Healthy Heart Africa programme. Experts say this is particularly concerning, as individuals with prehypertension often remain unaware of their elevated risk and can easily progress to more severe heart disease without intervention.
Heart failure is also emerging as a critical issue in Kenya. According to a national, multicentre registry involving three major hospitals, over 80% of the heart failure patients presented for the first time with new-onset disease, underscoring the problem of late detection. Young age, hypertension, and obesity were among the leading risk factors identified by the researchers, who argue that timely screening could significantly reduce the burden and improve patient outcomes.
Health authorities and cardiovascular specialists are calling for urgent expansion of screening and preventive services. They recommend strengthening primary-care systems to routinely check blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose — especially in urban areas where risk appears highest — and rolling out community-based awareness campaigns. Given the high proportion of people with undetected heart disease, experts argue that such interventions could save lives and help curb Kenya’s growing non-communicable disease (NCD) burden.