221712 Descriptive analysis of cardiac services provision in urban Nigeria

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Tolu Amune, Bsc , Consulting Group, Anadach Consulting Group, Lagos, Nigeria
Enoma Alade, BDS, DDS, MPH , Management, Anadach Consulting Group, Azusa, CA
Arash Farzan, BS , Anadach group, Anadach Group, Azusa, CA
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in several African Countries are becoming a major health concern, affecting workers at the prime of their working life with significant societal impact. This study is a descriptive analysis of cardiac services provision in urban Nigeria. Surveys were administered to 66 physicians and 108 prospective patients, supplemented by interviews with selected cardiologists, policymakers and academics. 80% of physicians (GPs/Internists) indicated that the incidence of CVD in their practices was increasing – particularly hypertension. This is attributed to lifestyle changes e.g. obesity and stress. Other CVDs in declining order were Valvular Disease, Rheumatic Disease and Ischemic Disease. 60% of patients who are referred by GPs/internists are sent to cardiologists while 40% are referred to cardio-thoracic surgeons. Over 50% of cardiac patients are referred to teaching hospitals while 13% are referred to private practices and the remaining to government clinics. More than 75% of cardiologists and cardio-thoracic surgeons refer cardiac patients to other countries: India 41% South Africa 10% United Kingdom 14% United States 5% Nigeria has about 100 trained cardiologists. It estimated that Nigerians spend at least $1 billion dollars on health tourism and there are about 50 cardiologists of Nigerian origin in the US alone. Thus, Nigerian policy makers may wish to engage with diaspora physicians to provide in-service training to physicians in-country or other innovative approaches to service provision e.g. telemedicine. Moreover, Nigerian policymakers may wish to consider public health interventions (e.g., diet, hypertension screening) to prevent continued acceleration of the CVD burden.

Learning Areas:
Clinical medicine applied in public health
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health administration or related administration

Learning Objectives:
Describe the cardiac services provided in Nigeria Discuss recommendations with Nigerian Policy Makers

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I oversaw the data collection and analysis processes.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.