Screen detection and the WHO stepwise approach to the prevalence and risk factors of arterial hypertension in Kinshasa.
BACKGROUND
The trend of hypertension and other risk factors of cardiovascular disease is changing because of epidemiological, demographic and nutritional transitions in sub-Saharan Africa.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and risk factors of arterial hypertension in the Kinshasa region, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).


METHODS
Data were collected from random sample cross-sectional surveys of adult black Africans from Kinshasa, with the help of a structured questionnaire, physical examinations and blood samples, using the World Health Organisation (WHO) stepwise approach. Sex, age, place of residence (urban versus rural), psychosocial risk factors (socioeconomic status, stress), overweight status (BMI: 25-29.9 kg/m), general obesity (BMI: >or=30 kg/m), abdominal obesity (waist circumference: >or=94 cm) and diabetes mellitus were considered to be the potential risk factors for screen-detected hypertension.


RESULTS
The weighted prevalences of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, overweight status, general obesity and abdominal obesity were 15.2, 140.2, 13.5, 4.8 and 7.5%, respectively. Blood pressure and the proportion of participants with hypertension increased with age and BMI group in the population, for both men and women. Age, rural residence, low socioeconomic status, high socioeconomic status, general obesity and abdominal obesity were the risk factors for hypertension. Women aged 55 years and above had higher levels of blood pressure and hypertension than men.


CONCLUSIONS
Absolute levels of hypertension, all types of obesity and diabetes mellitus are high risk factors in the army camps and semiurban extension cities; general obesity and abdominal obesity are the risk factors for detectable hypertension. Effective control of general obesity and abdominal obesity and psychosocial strategies that target both semirural and urban areas of the Kinshasa region have the potential to prevent much premature cardiovascular disease.
Longo-Mbenza
Benjamin
B
Division of Cardiology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. longombenza@yahoo.fr
Ngoma
Dieudonné Vangu
DV
Nahimana
Damien
D
Mayuku
Dominique Mupepe
DM
Fuele
Simon Mbungu
SM
Ekwanzala
Florent
F
Beya
Christian
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D003906:Developing Countries; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014944:World Health Organization; D055815:Young Adult