PESHAWAR: One in four cardiovascular disease patients in Peshawar is a young adult aged between 18 and 45 years, according to a new study conducted by Khyber Medical University (KMU).

The study has highlighted the growing burden of heart diseases among younger people. The findings raise concerns about early-onset cardiovascular diseases and the need for timely diagnosis and preventive measures.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, accounting for approximately 523 million cases and 18.6 million deaths annually.

Around 75pc of these deaths occur in low and middle income countries (LMICs), highlighting the disproportionate burden on developing nations.

Research says cardiovascular diseases are leading cause of morbidity and mortality

Although cardiovascular diseases are traditionally associated with elderly people, their incidence among young people is increasing globally. Pakistan faces a particularly high burden of cardiovascular diseases, yet epidemiological evidence concerning young adults in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains limited.

A comprehensive multicentre study conducted in Peshawar has provided important insights into the epidemiology and genetic profiling of cardiovascular diseases among young adults.

The research, titled “epidemiology and genetic profiling of cardiovascular diseases among young adults in Peshawar, Pakistan,” was conducted by Dr Nauman Arif as part of his PhD in public health at Institute of Public Health and Social Sciences, Khyber Medical University (KMU).

The study analysed data from four major public sector tertiary care hospitals, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Lady Reading Hospital and Peshawar Institute of Cardiology, the province’s only specialised heart hospital.

According to its findings, 24.2pc of cardiovascular disease admissions involved young adults aged 18 to 45 years, indicating that approximately one in four CVD patients belonged to this age group.

Furthermore, nearly 70pc of these young patients presented with advanced disease severity, raising serious concerns about delayed diagnosis and inadequate early prevention.

The author has screened 8,650 patients. The study also identified acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and cardiomyopathies as important cardiovascular conditions among young adults in Peshawar.

A particularly significant aspect of the research is its genetic investigation. Potentially pathogenic genetic variants, particularly in LRP6, MEF2A and CYP27A1 genes, have been identified among familial cases, highlighting the potential contribution of genetic factors to cardiovascular disease in young people.

The findings underscore the importance of understanding both conventional cardiovascular risk factors and genetic predispositions. Risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, diabetes and obesity require particular attention while their prevalence varies considerably across low and middle income countries.

The researcher emphasises that early cardiovascular screening, effective management of hypertension and diabetes, obesity prevention, smoking cessation and targeted genetic counselling for high-risk families are essential to reducing premature cardiovascular illness and deaths.

The research provides an important epidemiological foundation for understanding cardiovascular diseases among young adults in Peshawar and can help to guide evidence-based prevention strategies, early diagnosis, precision medicine and targeted public health interventions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Dr Nauman Arif completed his PhD under the supervision of Meritorious Professor Ziaul Haq, the executive director of Higher Education Commission (HEC), and Prof Taj Ali Khan, Professor of molecular epidemiology at KMU.

Based on his doctoral research, Dr Arif has published four research papers in international peer-reviewed journals and authored a book to further disseminate the scientific contributions and findings of his work.

The study serves as a reminder that cardiovascular disease prevention must begin early in life, rather than being considered exclusively a concern of old age groups.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2026