🌍 Cardiovascular Health in Africa: Insights from WHO STEPS 💓📊
A landmark JAMA Cardiology study analyzed 73,000+ adults across 22 African countries (2003–2022). Findings are sobering:
✅ Only 1 in 4 achieved ideal cardiovascular health.
⚠️ Diet, physical inactivity, and uncontrolled blood pressure remain critical gaps.
👩 Women and those with less education had lower odds of good heart health.
📉 No improvement seen over 2 decades.
An accompanying editorial urges:
🎯 Reframe the focus from risk tracking to building heart health.
💡 Align with SDG 3.4 (reduce NCD deaths) and invest in scalable prevention.
🤝 Partnerships, education, and gender-sensitive policies are vital for change.
👉 Africa's heart health is at a crossroads. The time to act is now.
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