Cardiovascular Disease in Low and Middle Income Countries: Challenges and Solutions

Faiz Ullah; Atiq Ur Rehman; Rahim Dil Khan; Hafeez Orakzai; Ahmadyar; Ajmal Khan

doi:10.70749/ijbr.v3i5.1241

Authors

Faiz Ullah Department of Cardiology, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Atiq Ur Rehman Peshawar Institute of Cardiology, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Rahim Dil Khan Department of Cardiology, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Hafeez Orakzai Department of Cardiology, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Ahmadyar THQ Hospital Tangi, Charsadda, Pakistan.
Ajmal Khan Rehman College of Allied Health Science, Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i5.1241

Keywords:

Cardiovascular Disease, Hypertension, Ischemic Heart Disease, low- and middle-income Countries, Healthcare Access, Risk Factors

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) stands among the principal reasons for death in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) together with Pakistan. Medical areas with restricted healthcare access, limited resources, and elevated risk factor rates have caused cardiovascular disease to expand within such regions. Objective: An evaluation of CVD prevalence and treatment obstacles and results has been performed in a Pakistan-based tertiary care facility to identify improvement possibilities for LMICs cardiovascular care. Materials and Method: The study conducted at Department of Cardiology, Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar, Pakistan from September, 2024 to February, 2025 for the descriptive cross-sectional investigation. Patient interviews, clinical assessments, and medical record reviews gathered data from the sampled patients. Five hundred patients with diagnosed CVD were included in the study. Results: The most prevalent condition affecting patients was hypertension since it affected 60% of the population, while blood pressure control was adequate in only 30% of cases. Patients experienced difficulties obtaining needed medication treatment while dealing with multiple health conditions together with different controllable risk elements. Conclusion: This research shows that developing countries face serious obstacles in controlling CVD, which calls for better healthcare access together with improved management strategies and public health programs.

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