title: Low prevalence of risk factors for coronary heart disease in rural Tanzania.
abstract: A community-based survey was used to assess the prevalence of risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) in rural Tanzanians. In all, 8581 subjects (3705 men, 4876 women) aged > or = 15 years in eight villages in three regions in rural Tanzania representing a range of socioeconomic deprivation were studied. The main outcome measures were serum cholesterol and triglyceride level, blood 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 mmol/l, and in women 4.4 3.6 and 3.9 mmol/l in Kilimanjaro, 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 (124/75 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 Kilimanjaro 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.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Muhimbili Medical Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Swai
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: McLarty
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kitange
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kilima
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tatalla
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Keen
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Chuwa
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Alberti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol