Ischaemic heart disease and stroke remain the leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for millions of deaths each year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The WHO, in a report published on Friday on the world’s leading causes of death, said ischaemic heart disease alone claimed about 9.5 million lives in 2023, representing approximately 16% of all deaths globally.
Ischaemic heart disease occurs when the arteries supplying blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked, reducing the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart muscle.
The report places heart disease and stroke at the centre of the global mortality burden, highlighting the continued impact of cardiovascular diseases on populations around the world.
The WHO’s findings underscore the scale of the challenge facing health systems as countries seek to prevent premature deaths linked to cardiovascular conditions and other major causes of mortality.
