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Cardiac diseases leading cause of death among Zimbabwean men in the UK
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Data from Robert Mugabe International Airport (RGM) indicates that Zimbabwean men repatriated from the United Kingdom account for the majority of deaths in the diaspora, with cardiac diseases identified as the leading cause of death, HealthTimes can reveal.
The study, conducted by the Port Health Department at RGM between January 2024 and June 2025, found that cancer was the predominant cause of death among women, while men over the age of 50 were primarily succumbing to heart-related complications. The findings were based on human remains registers and clearance forms currently under review.
"Cancer was a leading cause of death at 23 percent, followed by cardiac diseases. Stratification of cause of death by sex showed that males were dominating, especially in the cardiac diseases category," said Beryl Nothando Maphosa, a Port Health Officer at RGM, presenting the findings during a graduation ceremony for field epidemiologists in Harare. She added that the trend may be linked to migration patterns among men seeking to provide for their families, noting that men often exhibit poorer health-seeking behaviour compared to women.
The study further showed that nearly half of all human remains received at RGM originated from the United Kingdom, reflecting longstanding migration ties between the two countries. Migrants older than 50 contributed a significant proportion of the cases examined.
Experts attribute the high incidence of cardiac-related deaths among migrant men to a combination of stress, poor diet, strenuous work, and harsh living conditions abroad. Many migrants leave Zimbabwe in good health but face long working hours, income uncertainty, and limited access to healthcare in host countries. Cultural tendencies to "tough it out" often exacerbate undiagnosed cardiovascular issues.
"Cardiac arrest has emerged as a leading cause of death among migrant men due to a combination of stress, poor diet, and difficult working conditions," the study noted. Researchers globally have linked sudden cardiac deaths among migrant men to psychosocial stress, strenuous physical labour, and unhealthy lifestyle changes.
The human toll is felt keenly back home. Many men who die abroad are breadwinners, and their sudden deaths leave families without income and burdened with repatriation costs, which can run into thousands of dollars. Health experts emphasize that these deaths represent not just statistics, but widows left struggling and children deprived of school fees.
"This is more than numbers," said a health expert familiar with the study. "Families face grief and financial strain, often needing to fundraise for funeral costs."
Experts urge Zimbabweans in the diaspora to adopt healthier lifestyles, undergo regular medical check-ups, and manage stress proactively. They warn that without intervention, cardiac-related deaths among migrant men are likely to rise, endangering both lives abroad and the wellbeing of families at home.
The study, conducted by the Port Health Department at RGM between January 2024 and June 2025, found that cancer was the predominant cause of death among women, while men over the age of 50 were primarily succumbing to heart-related complications. The findings were based on human remains registers and clearance forms currently under review.
"Cancer was a leading cause of death at 23 percent, followed by cardiac diseases. Stratification of cause of death by sex showed that males were dominating, especially in the cardiac diseases category," said Beryl Nothando Maphosa, a Port Health Officer at RGM, presenting the findings during a graduation ceremony for field epidemiologists in Harare. She added that the trend may be linked to migration patterns among men seeking to provide for their families, noting that men often exhibit poorer health-seeking behaviour compared to women.
The study further showed that nearly half of all human remains received at RGM originated from the United Kingdom, reflecting longstanding migration ties between the two countries. Migrants older than 50 contributed a significant proportion of the cases examined.
Experts attribute the high incidence of cardiac-related deaths among migrant men to a combination of stress, poor diet, strenuous work, and harsh living conditions abroad. Many migrants leave Zimbabwe in good health but face long working hours, income uncertainty, and limited access to healthcare in host countries. Cultural tendencies to "tough it out" often exacerbate undiagnosed cardiovascular issues.
"Cardiac arrest has emerged as a leading cause of death among migrant men due to a combination of stress, poor diet, and difficult working conditions," the study noted. Researchers globally have linked sudden cardiac deaths among migrant men to psychosocial stress, strenuous physical labour, and unhealthy lifestyle changes.
The human toll is felt keenly back home. Many men who die abroad are breadwinners, and their sudden deaths leave families without income and burdened with repatriation costs, which can run into thousands of dollars. Health experts emphasize that these deaths represent not just statistics, but widows left struggling and children deprived of school fees.
"This is more than numbers," said a health expert familiar with the study. "Families face grief and financial strain, often needing to fundraise for funeral costs."
Experts urge Zimbabweans in the diaspora to adopt healthier lifestyles, undergo regular medical check-ups, and manage stress proactively. They warn that without intervention, cardiac-related deaths among migrant men are likely to rise, endangering both lives abroad and the wellbeing of families at home.
Source - Health Times
