Study Shows Rising Cases of Heart Disease

Recent health reports and expert analyses indicate that heart disease is on the rise in Kenya, with doctors warning of an emerging crisis particularly among younger adults. According to a Business Daily feature, cardiovascular conditions now account for an estimated 25 percent of hospital admissions and about 13 percent of all deaths in the country — a significant increase over the past decade.
Cardiologists say this surge is closely linked to changing lifestyles: urbanization, poor diets rich in salt and unhealthy fats, sedentary behaviour, and rising alcohol use are all fueling a growing burden of hypertension, obesity, and high cholesterol. According to the Kenya NCD Strategic Plan, CVDs like ischemic heart disease and stroke now account for a substantial proportion of non-communicable disease deaths.
Alarmingly, the rise in heart disease isn’t just confined to older populations. In a recent Standard Media report, medical experts noted that more young Kenyans — in their 30s and 40s — are being admitted with cardiac events such as heart attacks. A cardiologist quoted by The Star adds that stress, hypertension, diabetes, and unhealthy lifestyles are increasingly putting younger adults at risk.
Among adolescents, a new study from Eldoret shows that many school-going youths are already showing cardiovascular risk factors: nearly 28 percent had elevated systolic blood pressure, while others had raised waist-to-height ratios and were physically inactive. Experts say these trends highlight an urgent need for stronger heart-health education, routine screening in younger age groups, and preventive interventions to curb the long-term impact of heart disease in Kenya.