Sodiq Ojuroungbe
Local and international cardiologists say it is crucial for doctors to adopt personalised care for patients dealing with high blood fat, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure for better treatment outcomes.
The experts, who spoke at the International Symposium Cardiology Chapter 1, organised in Lagos by Hetero Labs Nigeria Limited, highlighted the importance of a holistic assessment when treating patients with dyslipidemia, a condition characterised by high levels of “bad fat” in the blood, which can lead to arterial blockages.
They urged physicians in Nigeria and across the globe to take a holistic approach when assessing patients with high blood fats.
A Consultant Cardiologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Aman Mbakwem, stressed that not all individuals with high cholesterol face identical risks.
She maintained that factors such as blood pressure, diabetes, and overall health must be considered to create a comprehensive risk profile.
The heart specialist noted that high-risk patients may require more aggressive treatment to lower cholesterol levels significantly.
In her presentation entitled: “Dyslipidemia: Navigating the Maze, Choosing the Right Therapeutic Option”, Mbakwem said dyslipidemia (high levels of fat in the blood), unlike dietary fat, is “bad fat” that builds up and clogs arteries, like a kitchen sink getting blocked.
“Once it happens like that, it can grow and grow and grow and once it covers the whole artery, it means there is no blood supply beyond that point, and we’re saying we need to control that.
“We are looking at controlling or reducing the amount of fat in the blood. We don’t talk only about cholesterol, so it’s fat and the blood and it comes from two sources – what you eat and then what your body makes. Because a lot of people want to talk about fat, people will say fat and blood but it’s different from what you know.
“Even then it’s not just the fat. If you have fat and you have high blood pressure and you have diabetes, your risk for cardiac damage is multiplied. So we’re saying to our physicians, look at that; put people in a risk profile. Are they low-risk? Are they high-risk? Are they at moderate risk?” she explained.
While stressing that cholesterol itself might not be the biggest concern in Nigeria, the cardiologist said its combination with high blood pressure creates a similar risk profile as high cholesterol alone.
Emphasising the importance of a holistic approach, the physician added, “When you have that kind of scenario, we are a bit more aggressive with treatment and we are saying that we should lower the cholesterol, push it down as much as we can.”
A heart failure specialist and Professor of Medicine, at the University of Texas, Robert Chilton, presented two promising treatment options for heart failure patients.
His first presentation was titled: ‘Revolutionising Heart Failure Care, Unveiling Gold Standard Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitors Therapy”.
“My presentation tonight was looking at the use of ARNI and heart failure and the benefits it has as one of the most powerful heart failure agents that we have,” he noted.
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