Cardiologists and public health leaders have raised concern over the rising burden of heart failure in Ghana, describing it as a growing public health emergency that is claiming lives in their most productive years.
This came to the fore at the 8th Annual General and Scientific Meeting (AGSM) of the Ghanaian Society of Cardiology, held under the theme: “Heart Failure in Ghana: Translating Evidence into Practice.”
Speaking at the meeting on February 26, the General Secretary of the Society, Dr. Lambert Appiah, a cardiologist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, said data over the past decade shows a steady increase in cardiovascular diseases, with heart failure emerging as the leading cause of cardiac-related hospital admissions.
“Uncontrolled hypertension remains the leading underlying cause of heart failure in Ghana, alongside poorly managed diabetes and high cholesterol levels. Heart attacks, caused by blocked blood flow to the heart, are also contributing significantly to the burden,” Dr Lambert stated.
The Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Fred Adomako, warned that Ghana’s situation differs from that of many Western countries, where heart failure is largely a disease of the elderly.
“In Ghana, our patients are younger. The average heart failure patient is in their 50s; nearly a decade younger than their Western counterparts. We are losing the very backbone of our economy and families to a condition that is often the final consequence of uncontrolled hypertension,” he said.
He disclosed that in specialized units like the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, heart failure accounts for as much as 88 percent of cardiac admissions, reflecting late diagnosis, poor blood pressure control, and limited access to long-term care.
Dr. Adomako also highlighted the financial burden on patients, citing a 2023 study showing that heart failure patients who spend an average of 46 days on admission incur costs exceeding 100 times the minimum wage during a single hospitalization excluding additional out-of-pocket expenses for essential tests.
Although evidence-based therapies exist and have been shown globally to improve outcomes significantly, experts say implementation remains a major challenge in lower-middle-income countries like Ghana.
“Guidelines do not implement themselves, knowledge does not automatically translate into practice,” Dr. Adomako stressed.
He identified key barriers including late presentation with more than 60 percent of patients arriving at advanced stages of the disease limited diagnostic tools in many districts, high cost of medications, shortage of specialists, and systemic gaps in long-term follow-up care.
Currently, Ghana has fewer than 50 cardiologists serving a population of over 30 million, translating to roughly one cardiologist per one million people. However, the Society reports progress in specialist training, with between 15 and 20 new cardiologists trained over the past five years.
In a major boost to cardiovascular care, the Chief Executive Officer of the University of Ghana Medical Centre, Dr. Abdul Samed Tanko, announced that three new cardiac catheterization laboratories are being established with support from the Ghana Medical Trust Fund.
Two of the facilities are under construction at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the Tamale Teaching Hospital, while efforts are underway to restore and upgrade the cardiac centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
“The new heart labs, when completed, will enhance access to advanced procedures beyond medication management and provide timely interventions for patients with complex cardiac conditions,” Dr. Tanko emphasized.
To confront the crisis, health leaders proposed a multi-pronged strategy: strengthening prevention through improved hypertension detection and control at the primary care level; standardizing the initiation of heart failure therapy, particularly at hospital discharge; developing practical implementation tools tailored to district and community-level facilities; and prioritizing equity to ensure underserved populations benefit from interventions.
The Ghana Health Service has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with the Ghanaian Society of Cardiology and teaching hospitals to strengthen primary healthcare systems, expand mentorship, and leverage data for continuous improvement.
As deliberations at the AGSM continue, stakeholders insist that the conversation must shift from knowing what works to building reliable systems that ensure every Ghanaian, regardless of location or income, has access to lifesaving cardiovascular care.
By Ibrahim Abubakar
