ILOILO – Deaths due to hypertensive cardiovascular disease in this province rose sharply to 1,950 in 2020 from an average of 520 yearly from 2015 to 2019.
According to Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, acting head of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), hypertensive cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of death in Iloilo last year, overtaking pneumonia.
“One reason could be the stress brought about by the pandemic,” she said.
Those who died may not have sought medical help, afraid as they were to go out due to the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), said Colmenares-Quiñon.
“Indi gid pagkalipatan mag-communicate sa aton sentro or clinic or doctors kay posible ang ending sa sobra ta ka halong kag kulba indi ta na ma-atipanan ang aton health,” said Quiñon.
So long as the minimum health standards are followed, one won’t be infected with COVID-19, she said.
Quiñon stressed the importance of maintaining low blood pressure through regular intake of maintenance medicines, coupled with proper diet and exercise.
“Limit man naton ang aton intake sang cholesterol and salty food kay amo gid ‘na ang nagapataas sang blood pressure,” said Quiñon.
The leading cause of death in Iloilo province since 2018 used to be pneumonia.
In 2020, PHO recorded 1,337 deaths due to pneumonia, lower than the five-year average of 1,835.
The drop may be due to the minimum public health standards, especially the wearing of facemask, social distancing and practicing proper hygiene.
“Mas naging mahalong ang mga tawo,” said Quiñon.
Based on PHO’s data, the top 10 mortality or leading cause of death in the province in 2020 were the following:
* hypertensive cardiovascular disease – 1,950
* pneumonia – 1,337
* cancer (all forms) – 649
* undetermined cause of death – 591
* diabetes mellitus – 406
* accident (all forms) – 306
* pulmonary tuberculosis – 256
* kidney diseases – 243
* cerebrovascular accident – 193
* liver diseases – 185
On the other hand, the top 10 morbidity or leading illnesses often consulted in RHUs and hospitals were the following:
* acute respiratory infection – 13,798
* animal bites – 9,864
* hypertension – 7,418
* urinary tract infection – 5,778
* pneumonia – 4,706
* influenza-like illness – 3,412
* skin diseases – 3,382
* tuberculosis (all forms) – 3,045
* heart disease – 1,026
* acute lower respiratory tract infection – 934./PN
