title: Monitoring of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension in South Africa: challenges for the post-2015 global development agenda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Examining the non-communicable disease (NCD) profile for South Africa (SA) is crucial when developing health interventions that aim to reduce the burden of NCDs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review NCD indicators in national data sources in order to describe the burden of NCDs in SA, using hypertension as an example.
  
  
  METHODS
  Age, gender, district of death and underlying cause of death data were obtained for 2008 and 2009 mortality unit records from Statistics SA and adjusted using STATA 11. Data for raised blood pressure were obtained from four national household surveys: the South African Demographic and Health Survey 1998, the Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health 2007, and the National Income Dynamics Study 2008 and 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of years of life lost due to NCDs was highest in the metros and least-deprived districts, with all metros (especially Mangaung) showing high age-standardised mortality rates for ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and hypertensive disease. The prevalence of hypertension has increased since 1998. National household surveys showed a measured hypertension prevalence of over 40% in adults aged ≥25 years in 2010. Treatment coverage was 35.7%. Only 36.4% of hypertensive cases (on treatment) were controlled.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further work is needed if NCD monitoring is to be enhanced. Priority targets for NCDs must be integrated into national health planning processes. Surveillance requires integration into national health information systems. Within primary healthcare, a larger focus on integrated chronic care is essential.
authors.affiliation: Health Systems Trust, Durban, South Africa. candy.day@hst.org.za.
authors.forename: Candy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Groenewald
authors.forename: Ria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laubscher
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaudhry
authors.forename: Nienke
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van Schaik
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bradshaw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002423:Cause of Death; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents