Prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and associated risk factors in a rural black population of South Africa.
BACKGROUND
To determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in a rural adult black population from Limpopo Province in South Africa.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A sample of 1608 women and 498 men aged 30 years and above participated in the study. Sociodemographic data, anthropometric measures (body mass index, waist/hip ratio), blood pressure and biochemical risk factors were measured. A global cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profile was developed.


RESULTS
There was a high prevalence of tobacco use for men (57%) and women (35.4%), with women (28.1%) predominantly using smokeless tobacco. Alcohol use was very common in men (57.2%). Women weighed a great deal more than men, and 51.7% were either overweight or obese. Diabetes was diagnosed in 8.8 and 8.5% of women and men, respectively. High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was relatively high, whereas 42.3% of women and 28.5% of men had low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels of 3 mmol/l or more. Hypertension (blood pressure > or =140/90 mmHg) was found in 25.5% of women and 21.6% of men. According to the Framingham formulae, 18.9% of women and 32.1% of men had a 20% or higher chance of having a CVD event in the next 10 years.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a high prevalence of chronic disease risk factors in the rural, poor black community in Limpopo, South Africa. Consequently, the population had a higher than expected risk of developing a CVD event in the following 10 years when compared with similar studies in black Africans.
Alberts
Marianne
M
School of Health Sciences, University of the North, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, South Africa. ma15@pixie.co.za
Urdal
Petter
P
Steyn
Krisela
K
Stensvold
Inger
I
Tverdal
Aage
A
Nel
Johanna H
JH
Steyn
Nelia P
NP
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D000410:Alanine Transaminase