Multiple Risk Factor Interventions for Primary Prevention of CVD in LMIC: A Cochrane Review

Global burden of stroke attributable to high systolic blood pressure in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019

Background

High systolic blood pressure (HSBP) is severely related to stroke, although the global burden of stroke associated with HSBP needs to be understood.

Materials and methods

Data derived from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study were used to analyze deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), age-standardized rates of mortality (ASMR), age-standardized rates of DALY (ASDR), and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC).

Results

Globally, 52.57% of deaths and 55.54% of DALYs from stroke were attributable to HSBP in 2019, with higher levels in men; the ASMRs and ASDRs in 1990-2019 experienced a decline of 34.89% and 31.71%, respectively, with the highest ASMR- and ASDR-related EAPCs in women. The middle socio-demographic index (SDI) regions showed the most numbers of deaths and DALYs in 2019 and 1990, with a decline in ASMR and ASDR; East Asia shared over 33% of global deaths and DALYs; Central Asia shared the highest ASMR and ASDR; high-income Asia Pacific experienced the highest decline in the ASMR- and ASDR-related EAPCs. Central and Southeast Asia had the highest percentages for deaths and DALYs, respectively, with more ASMR in high-middle SDI; the SDI and human development index were negatively associated with ASMR/ASDR and ASMR/ASDR-related EAPCs in 2019.

Conclusion

Global deaths and DALYs of stroke attributable to HSBP but none of their age-standardized rates have been on the rise over the past three decades; its disease burden focused especially on men aged 70 years and older in East, Central, and Southeast Asia, and the middle to high SDI regions.

Multiple cardiovascular risk factor care in 55 low- and middle-income countries: A cross-sectional analysis of nationally-representative, individual-level data from 280,783 adults

The prevalence of multiple age-related cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors is high among individuals living in low- and middle-income countries. We described receipt of healthcare services for and management of hypertension and diabetes among individuals living with these conditions using individual-level data from 55 nationally representative population-based surveys (2009-2019) with measured blood pressure (BP) and diabetes biomarker. We restricted our analysis to non-pregnant individuals aged 40-69 years and defined three mutually exclusive groups (i.e., hypertension only, diabetes only, and both hypertension-diabetes) to compare individuals living with concurrent hypertension and diabetes to individuals with each condition separately. We included 90,086 individuals who lived with hypertension only, 11,975 with diabetes only, and 16,228 with hypertension-diabetes. We estimated the percentage of individuals who were aware of their diagnosis, used pharmacological therapy, or achieved appropriate hypertension and diabetes management. A greater percentage of individuals with hypertension-diabetes were fully diagnosed (64.1% [95% CI: 61.8-66.4]) than those with hypertension only (47.4% [45.3-49.6]) or diabetes only (46.7% [44.1-49.2]). Among the hypertension-diabetes group, pharmacological treatment was higher for individual conditions (38.3% [95% CI: 34.8-41.8] using antihypertensive and 42.3% [95% CI: 39.4-45.2] using glucose-lowering medications) than for both conditions jointly (24.6% [95% CI: 22.1-27.2]).The percentage of individuals achieving appropriate management was highest in the hypertension group (17.6% [16.4-18.8]), followed by diabetes (13.3% [10.7-15.8]) and hypertension-diabetes (6.6% [5.4-7.8]) groups. Although health systems in LMICs are reaching a larger share of individuals living with both hypertension and diabetes than those living with just one of these conditions, only seven percent achieved both BP and blood glucose treatment targets. Implementation of cost-effective population-level interventions that shift clinical care paradigm from disease-specific to comprehensive CVD care are urgently needed for all three groups, especially for those with multiple CVD risk factors.

Global, regional, and national burden of cardiovascular diseases in youths and young adults aged 15-39 years in 204 countries/territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis of Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND

Understanding the temporal trends in the burden of overall and type-specific cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in youths and young adults and its attributable risk factors is important for effective and targeted prevention strategies and measures. We aimed to provide a standardized and comprehensive estimation of the prevalence, incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALY), and mortality rate of CVDs and its associated risk factors in youths and young adults aged 15-39 years at global, regional, and national levels.

METHODS

We applied Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 analytical tools to calculate the age-standardized incidence, prevalence, DALY, and mortality rate of overall and type-specific CVDs (i.e., rheumatic heart disease, ischemic heart disease, stroke, hypertensive heart disease, non-rheumatic valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy and myocarditis, atrial fibrillation and flutter, aortic aneurysm, and endocarditis) among youths and young adults aged 15-39 years by age, sex, region, sociodemographic index and across 204 countries/territories from 1990 to 2019, and proportional DALY of CVDs attributable to associated risk factors.

RESULTS

The global age-standardized DALY (per 100,000 population) for CVDs in youths and young adults significantly decreased from 1257.51 (95% confidence interval 1257.03, 1257.99) in 1990 to 990.64 (990.28, 990.99) in 2019 with an average annual percent change (AAPC) of - 0.81% (- 1.04%, - 0.58%, P < 0.001), and the age-standardized mortality rate also significantly decreased from 19.83 (19.77, 19.89) to 15.12 (15.08, 15.16) with an AAPC of - 0.93% (- 1.21%, - 0.66%, P < 0.001). However, the global age-standardized incidence rate (per 100,000 population) moderately increased from 126.80 (126.65, 126.95) in 1990 to 129.85 (129.72, 129.98) in 2019 with an AAPC of 0.08% (0.00%, 0.16%, P = 0.040), and the age-standardized prevalence rate significantly increased from 1477.54 (1477.03, 1478.06) to 1645.32 (1644.86, 1645.78) with an AAPC of 0.38% (0.35%, 0.40%, P < 0.001). In terms of type-specific CVDs, the age-standardized incidence and prevalence rate in rheumatic heart disease, prevalence rate in ischemic heart disease, and incidence rate in endocarditis increased from 1990 to 2019 (all P < 0.001). When stratified by sociodemographic index (SDI), the countries/territories with low and low-middle SDI had a higher burden of CVDs than the countries/territories with high and high-middle SDI. Women had a higher prevalence rate of CVDs than men, whereas men had a higher DALY and mortality rate than women. High systolic blood pressure, high body mass index, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were the main attributable risk factors for DALY of CVDs for all included countries and territories. Household air pollution from solid fuels was an additional attributable risk factor for DALY of CVDs in low and low-middle SDI countries compared with middle, high-middle, and high SDI countries. Compared with women, DALY for CVDs in men was more likely to be affected by almost all risk factors, especially for smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a substantial global burden of CVDs in youths and young adults in 2019. The burden of overall and type-specific CVDs varied by age, sex, SDI, region, and country. CVDs in young people are largely preventable, which deserve more attention in the targeted implementation of effective primary prevention strategies and expansion of young-people's responsive healthcare systems.

The burden of stroke and its attributable risk factors in the Middle East and North Africa region, 1990-2019

Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity across the globe. Providing comprehensive data on the burden of stroke in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) could be useful for health policy makers in the region. Therefore, this article reported the burden of stroke and its attributable risk factors between 1990 and 2019 by age, sex, type of stroke, and socio-demographic index. Data on the point prevalence, death, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), due to stroke, were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019 for the 21 countries located in the MENA region from 1990 to 2019. The counts and age-standardised rates (per 100,000) were presented, along with their corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). In 2019, the regional age-standardised point prevalence and death rates of stroke were 1537.5 (95% UI: 1421.9–1659.9) and 87.7 (78.2–97.6) per 100,000, which represent a 0.5% (− 2.3 to 1.1) and 27.8% (− 35.4 to − 16) decrease since 1990, respectively. Moreover, the regional age-standardised DALY rate in 2019 was 1826.2 (1635.3–2026.2) per 100,000, a 32.0% (− 39.1 to − 23.3) decrease since 1990. In 2019, Afghanistan [3498.2 (2508.8–4500.4)] and Lebanon [752.9 (593.3–935.9)] had the highest and lowest age-standardised DALY rates, respectively. Regionally, the total number of stroke cases were highest in the 60–64 age group and was more prevalent in women in all age groups. In addition, there was a general negative association between SDI and the burden of stoke from 1990 to 2019. Also, in 2019, high systolic blood pressure [53.5%], high body mass index [39.4%] and ambient particulate air pollution [27.1%] made the three largest contributions to the burden of stroke in the MENA region. The stroke burden has decreased in the MENA region over the last three decades, although there are large inter-country differences. Preventive programs should be implemented which focus on metabolic risk factors, especially among older females in low SDI countries.

Global, regional, and national burden of stroke and its risk factors, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND

Regularly updated data on stroke and its pathological types, including data on their incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability, risk factors, and epidemiological trends, are important for evidence-based stroke care planning and resource allocation. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) aims to provide a standardised and comprehensive measurement of these metrics at global, regional, and national levels.

METHODS

We applied GBD 2019 analytical tools to calculate stroke incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and the population attributable fraction (PAF) of DALYs (with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals [UIs]) associated with 19 risk factors, for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019. These estimates were provided for ischaemic stroke, intracerebral haemorrhage, subarachnoid haemorrhage, and all strokes combined, and stratified by sex, age group, and World Bank country income level.

FINDINGS

In 2019, there were 12·2 million (95% UI 11·0-13·6) incident cases of stroke, 101 million (93·2-111) prevalent cases of stroke, 143 million (133-153) DALYs due to stroke, and 6·55 million (6·00-7·02) deaths from stroke. Globally, stroke remained the second-leading cause of death (11·6% [10·8-12·2] of total deaths) and the third-leading cause of death and disability combined (5·7% [5·1-6·2] of total DALYs) in 2019. From 1990 to 2019, the absolute number of incident strokes increased by 70·0% (67·0-73·0), prevalent strokes increased by 85·0% (83·0-88·0), deaths from stroke increased by 43·0% (31·0-55·0), and DALYs due to stroke increased by 32·0% (22·0-42·0). During the same period, age-standardised rates of stroke incidence decreased by 17·0% (15·0-18·0), mortality decreased by 36·0% (31·0-42·0), prevalence decreased by 6·0% (5·0-7·0), and DALYs decreased by 36·0% (31·0-42·0). However, among people younger than 70 years, prevalence rates increased by 22·0% (21·0-24·0) and incidence rates increased by 15·0% (12·0-18·0). In 2019, the age-standardised stroke-related mortality rate was 3·6 (3·5-3·8) times higher in the World Bank low-income group than in the World Bank high-income group, and the age-standardised stroke-related DALY rate was 3·7 (3·5-3·9) times higher in the low-income group than the high-income group. Ischaemic stroke constituted 62·4% of all incident strokes in 2019 (7·63 million [6·57-8·96]), while intracerebral haemorrhage constituted 27·9% (3·41 million [2·97-3·91]) and subarachnoid haemorrhage constituted 9·7% (1·18 million [1·01-1·39]). In 2019, the five leading risk factors for stroke were high systolic blood pressure (contributing to 79·6 million [67·7-90·8] DALYs or 55·5% [48·2-62·0] of total stroke DALYs), high body-mass index (34·9 million [22·3-48·6] DALYs or 24·3% [15·7-33·2]), high fasting plasma glucose (28·9 million [19·8-41·5] DALYs or 20·2% [13·8-29·1]), ambient particulate matter pollution (28·7 million [23·4-33·4] DALYs or 20·1% [16·6-23·0]), and smoking (25·3 million [22·6-28·2] DALYs or 17·6% [16·4-19·0]).

INTERPRETATION

The annual number of strokes and deaths due to stroke increased substantially from 1990 to 2019, despite substantial reductions in age-standardised rates, particularly among people older than 70 years. The highest age-standardised stroke-related mortality and DALY rates were in the World Bank low-income group. The fastest-growing risk factor for stroke between 1990 and 2019 was high body-mass index. Without urgent implementation of effective primary prevention strategies, the stroke burden will probably continue to grow across the world, particularly in low-income countries.

FUNDING

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Cardiovascular disease research in the Arab world: a scoping review from seven Arab countries (2000-2018)

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study is to map cardiovascular disease (CVD) research productivity in Arab countries and identify gaps and opportunities that would inform future research agenda.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a scoping review.

METHODS

A review of research output between January 2000 and December 2018 in seven Arab countries, selected to represent various economies and epidemiological transitions, was conducted. Data on quantity and quality, study design, setting and focus were extracted and analysed for trends by time and place.

RESULTS

Over the study period, a total of 794 articles were published, with an average of 7.3 publications per million population. While time trends showed a 6-fold increase in the number of publications over the study period, a decreasing trend in mean journal impact factor was noted (from 2.3 in 2000 to 1.5 in 2018). Most studies (71%) were observational, 56% were conducted in medical facilities (hospitals or clinics) and most of the experimental studies (10%) were based in laboratory settings. Behavioural risk factors were addressed in 52% of the studies, and there was a dearth of studies examining associations with diet, physical inactivity or family history.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from this review indicate gaps in robust methods and pertinent themes in CVD research in the Arab region. Greater attention should be paid to high-quality evidence and implementation research. Also, there is a need for a more targeted CVD research agenda that is responsive to local and regional health burden and needs.

Integrated approach to malaria prevention at household level in rural communities in Wakiso district, Uganda: impact evaluation of a pilot project

Background

The integrated approach to malaria prevention, which advocates for the use of several malaria prevention methods at households, is being explored to complement other existing strategies. We implemented a pilot project that promoted the integrated approach to malaria prevention in two rural communities in Wakiso district, Uganda.

Objectives

This paper presents the impact evaluation findings of the project carried out 2 years after implementation with a focus on changes in knowledge and practices on malaria prevention.

Methods

The project evaluation was cross-sectional in design and employed both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. The quantitative survey was conducted among 540 households (household heads being participants) while the qualitative component involved 4 focus group discussions among community health workers (CHWs). Chi-square test was used to compare quantitative results from the evaluation with those of the baseline while thematic analysis was employed for qualitative data.

Results

There was a statistically significant positive change in malaria prevention practices in the evaluation compared with the baseline regarding indoor residual spraying (χ2 = 7.9, p = 0.019), mosquito screening of windows and ventilators (χ2 = 62.3, p = 0.001), and closing windows of houses before 6:00 pm (χ2 = 60.2, p < 0.001). The CHWs trained during the project were found to be highly knowledgeable on the various malaria prevention methods in the integrated approach, and continued to promote their use in the community.

Conclusion

Findings of the impact evaluation give promise that utilisation of integrated malaria prevention can be enhanced if use of multiple methods is promoted in communities.