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Buila NB, Tshiswaka TM, Lubenga YN, Katamba FK, Bayauli PM, Ngoyi GN, Bantu JMB, Beaney T, Kerr G, Poulter NR, M’Buyamba-Kabangu JR. May Measurement Month 2021: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from a suburban community in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Eur Heart J Suppl 2024; 26:iii27-iii30. [PMID: 39055595 PMCID: PMC11267721 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartjsupp/suae050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Hypertension remains the most powerful contributor to the global morbidity and mortality. May Measurement Month (MMM), a worldwide screening campaign initiated by the International Society of Hypertension (ISH), is organized annually to increase awareness of high blood pressure (BP). We screened 20 913 adult (≥18 years) residents of suburb hamlets of Mbujimayi (mean age 35.1 ± 15.1 years; Black ethnicity: 98.8%; women: 29.6%; diabetes: 1.6%; alcohol drinkers: 16.8% and smokers: 6.7%, previous myocardial infarction: 1.4%; stroke: 0.8%; taking aspirin: 3.2%; taking statins: 1.9%). Three sitting BP readings were taken, and hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg or being on antihypertensive medication. Half of the participants had never had their BP checked, whilst 4.2% of respondents had participated in the MMM19 campaign. 0.9% and 1.7% reported COVID-19 vaccination and positive test, respectively. After multiple imputation of missing BP readings, 14.0% of respondents had hypertension of which 35.8% were aware, 28.0% were on antihypertensive medication and 14.1% had controlled BP. Of those on antihypertensive medication, 40.4% were on monotherapy, 37.2% adhered to taking their medication regularly, and 50.4% had controlled BP (<140/90 mmHg). In regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, and antihypertensive treatment, smoking was associated with lower systolic BP, having more years of education was associated with higher systolic and diastolic BP, and physical activity was associated with lower systolic and diastolic BP. This campaign contributes somewhat to reducing the 'black hole' on the prevalence of hypertension in DRC pending systematic countrywide BP screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan B Buila
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypertension Unit/Cardiology, University of Kinshasa Hospital, Kinshasa, The Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Tresor M Tshiswaka
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypertension Unit/Cardiology, University of Kinshasa Hospital, Kinshasa, The Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Yves N Lubenga
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypertension Unit/Cardiology, University of Kinshasa Hospital, Kinshasa, The Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Fortunat K Katamba
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypertension Unit/Cardiology, University of Kinshasa Hospital, Kinshasa, The Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Pascal M Bayauli
- Department of Internal Medicine, Service of Endocrinology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Kinshasa Hospital, Kinshasa, The Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Georges N Ngoyi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypertension Unit/Cardiology, University of Kinshasa Hospital, Kinshasa, The Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | | | - Thomas Beaney
- Imperial Clinical Trials Unit, Imperial College London, Stadium House, 68 Wood Lane, London W12 7RH, UK
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, St Dunstan’s Road, London W6 8RP, UK
| | - Gabriele Kerr
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, St Dunstan’s Road, London W6 8RP, UK
- Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelenlaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Neil R Poulter
- Imperial Clinical Trials Unit, Imperial College London, Stadium House, 68 Wood Lane, London W12 7RH, UK
| | - Jean-René M’Buyamba-Kabangu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hypertension Unit/Cardiology, University of Kinshasa Hospital, Kinshasa, The Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Gafane-Matemane LF, Craig A, Kruger R, Alaofin OS, Ware LJ, Jones ESW, Kengne AP. Hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa: the current profile, recent advances, gaps, and priorities. J Hum Hypertens 2024:10.1038/s41371-024-00913-6. [PMID: 38698111 DOI: 10.1038/s41371-024-00913-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Recent global and regional reports consistently confirm the high and increasing prevalence of hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with poor detection, treatment, and control rates. This narrative review summarises the burden of hypertension in SSA and recent findings from community-based hypertension management strategies. We further outline prominent risk factors according to recent data and associated underlying mechanisms for hypertension development. An extensive review of literature showed that most countries have reported on the prevalence of hypertension during 2017-2023, despite limitations linked to the lack of nationally representative studies, heterogeneity of sampling and data collection methods. Task-shifting approaches that assign roles to model patients and community health workers reported improved linkage to healthcare services and adherence to medication, with inconsistent findings on blood pressure (BP)-lowering effects over time. The regularly reported risk factors include unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, increased adiposity and underweight, ageing, level of education, and/or income as well as psychosocial factors. Newer data on the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to hypertension and potential areas of intervention are reported from children and adults and include, among others, salt-handling and volume overload, endothelial function, BP dipping patterns and the role of human immunodeficiency virus . To conclude, significant strides have been made in data reporting from SSA on the burden of hypertension in the region as well as biomarker research to improve understanding and identification of areas of intervention. However, gaps remain on linkage between knowledge generation, translation, and implementation research. Coordinated studies addressing both discovery science and public health are crucial to curb hypertension development and improve management in SSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lebo F Gafane-Matemane
- Hypertension in Africa Research Team, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa.
- SAMRC Research Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa.
| | - Ashleigh Craig
- SAMRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit (DPHRU), University of the Witwatersrand, Soweto, 1864, South Africa
| | - Ruan Kruger
- Hypertension in Africa Research Team, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
- SAMRC Research Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
| | - Omotayo S Alaofin
- Hypertension in Africa Research Team, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
| | - Lisa J Ware
- SAMRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit (DPHRU), University of the Witwatersrand, Soweto, 1864, South Africa
| | - Erika S W Jones
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Groote Schuur Hospital and Kidney and Hypertension Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Andre Pascal Kengne
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Francie Van Zijl Dr, Parow Valley, Cape Town, 7501, South Africa
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa
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