The urgent need for a policy on epidemiological data on cardiovascular diseases in Bangladesh

Health Sci Rep. 2023 Jul 7;6(7):e1410. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.1410. eCollection 2023 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Disease prevention and healthcare policy choices cannot be made without epidemiology data. Since it is a growing country with rapidly increasing illness rates, this information is in great demand in Bangladesh. This is because there is a shortage of reliable and sufficient data, leading to inadequate preventive and treatment methods.

Discussion: Poor health concerns and economic conditions mean that not all families can afford to provide the nutrition their members need, leading to an increase in the prevalence of many diseases. The outcome is an ever-increasing threat of cardiovascular disease (CVD) issues, the leading cause of death in Bangladesh, even though the underlying causes remain unknown. There is a strong demand for accurate information on CVD patients in Bangladesh, however, there is no effective framework for managing epidemiological data. This prevents an in-depth analysis of the nation's socioeconomic status, dietary practices, and way of life, as well as the implementation of sound healthcare policy.

Conclusion: In this article, we present arguments on this important issue using the healthcare systems of the developed world and Bangladesh as examples.

Keywords: Bangladesh; cardiovascular disease prevalence; cardiovascular diseases; epidemiology; healthcare policy.