Determinants and Mortality Trends of Cardiovascular Diseases in Nigeria: A Tertiary Health Centre Perspective in South-Eastern Nigeria

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and has taken approximately 17.9 million lives across the globe with 31% contribution to global death scores. Mortality due to CVD is projected to increase to 24 million deaths by 2030 and a third of the world mortality is accrued to CVD. Half of CVD death is due to coronary heart disease (CHD) and a third from stroke with a massive economic burden in Europeans countries. The trends of cardiovascular disease mortality have important implications for policy formulation, allocation of resources, and for targeting of needed interventions to save mankind.