© 1993 Oxford University Press
other |
Low Prevalence of Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease in Rural Tanzania
* Department of Medicine
** Ministry of Health United Republic of Tanzania
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Muhimbili Medical Centre Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Ruhr Universität Bochum D-4630 Bochum, Germany
§ Deparment of Medicine, University of Newcastle upon Tyne UK
Reprint requests to: Professor K G M M Alberti, Deparment of Medicine. University of Newcastle upon Tyne, The Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
A community-based survey was used to acisess the prevalence of risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) in rural Tanzanians. In all, 8581 subjects (3705 men, 4876 women) aged 
15 years in eight villages in three regions in rural Tanzania reprssenting a range of socioeconomic deprivation were studied. The main outcome measures were serum cholesterol and triglyceride level, Mood pressure and prevalence of dyslipidaemia, hypertension, smoking, overweight, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes; as well as ECG changes. Mean serum cholesterol levels in men were 4.2, 3.4 and 3.7 mmo/l, and in women 4.4 3.6 and 3.9 mmol/l in Kilirnanjaro, Morogoro and Mara regions respectively. In Kilimanjaro region 17.4% of men and 19.0% of women had values above 5.2 mmol/l compared with only 5.0% and 6.7% in Morogoro region and 4.8% and 6.9% respectively in Mara region. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased with age in both men and women in all three regions with the most marked increase in Kilimanjaro region and the smallest rise in Mara region. Mean age-adjusted values were highest in Kilimanjaro region (124175 mm Hg, and 125/76 mm Hg in men and women respectively) and lowest in Mara region (120/70 mm Hg in men and 118/68 mm Hg in women). Hypertension was found in 6.6% of men and 7.5% of women in Kilimenjero region, 3.3% and 4.7% in Morogoro, and 2.6% and 3.4% in Mara region. Cigarette smoking was found in 42.6% of men in Kilimanjaro region, 28.2% of Morogoro region and 8.6% in Mara region. Less than 4% of women smoked in all three regions. Only 2.4–4.0% of men, and 7.9–10.5% of women were overweight or obase. ST,T and Q,QS changes on ECG were recorded in 7.8% and 2.7% of men, and 17.4% and 3.7% of women aged 
40 years. Diabetes was found in 0.6–0.8% as previously reported. The proportion of men with two or more risk factors for CHD ranged from 0.2% in Mara region to 4.6% in Kilimanjaro region. For women the corresponding figures ranged from 0% in Mara region to 1.1 % in Morogoro region. The proportion was incread in those with IGT (9.3%) and diabetes (14.1%). Similarly those with ischaemic (Q,QS) changes on ECG had a twofold increase in risk factors. Cardiovascular risk factor levels make it unlikely that CHD will emerge as a significant health problem among rural Tanzanians in the near future.
Revised 1 January 1993
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J. Addo, L. Smeeth, and D. A. Leon Hypertension In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review Hypertension, December 1, 2007; 50(6): 1012 - 1018. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. M Mayosi Contemporary trends in the epidemiology and management of cardiomyopathy and pericarditis in sub-Saharan Africa Heart, October 1, 2007; 93(10): 1176 - 1183. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. P. Kengne, A. G.B. Amoah, and J.-C. Mbanya Cardiovascular Complications of Diabetes Mellitus in Sub-Saharan Africa Circulation, December 6, 2005; 112(23): 3592 - 3601. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K Jagoe, R Edwards, F Mugusi, D Whiting, and N Unwin Tobacco smoking in Tanzania, East Africa: population based smoking prevalence using expired alveolar carbon monoxide as a validation tool Tob. Control, September 1, 2002; 11(3): 210 - 214. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. Bovet, A. G Ross, J.-P. Gervasoni, M. Mkamba, D. M Mtasiwa, C. Lengeler, D. Whiting, and F. Paccaud Distribution of blood pressure, body mass index and smoking habits in the urban population of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and associations with socioeconomic status Int. J. Epidemiol., February 1, 2002; 31(1): 240 - 247. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. H D Fall Non-industrialised countries and affluence: Relationship with Type 2 diabetes Br. Med. Bull., November 1, 2001; 60(1): 33 - 50. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A.R.P. Walker and A.A. Wadee In the rationing of healthcare in indigent African populations, which services should come first? Perspectives in Public Health, September 1, 2000; 120(3): 152 - 157. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. W Walker, D. G McLarty, G. Masuki, H. M Kitange, D. Whiting, A. F Moshi, J. G Massawe, R. Amaro, A. Mhina, and K G M M Alberti Age specific prevalence of impairment and disability relating to hemiplegic stroke in the Hai District of northern Tanzania J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, June 1, 2000; 68(6): 744 - 749. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Aubert, P. Bovet, J.-P. Gervasoni, A. Rwebogora, B. Waeber, and F. Paccaud Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices on Hypertension in a Country in Epidemiological Transition Hypertension, May 1, 1998; 31(5): 1136 - 1145. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. S. Kaufman, M. C. Asuzu, J. Mufunda, T. Forrester, R. Wilks, A. Luke, A. E. Long, and R. S. Cooper Relationship Between Blood Pressure and Body Mass Index in Lean Populations Hypertension, December 1, 1997; 30(6): 1511 - 1516. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|