title: Effectiveness of a screening programme in identifying individuals with increased risk of cardiovascular disease in South Africa.
abstract: To determine the proportion of participants identified with previously undiagnosed diabetes and untreated hypertension in the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa's screening programme.
  
  
  
  This cross-sectional study was conducted nationally in 2013 among ≥18-year-old adults self-selected for screening. Data collection included medical history and behaviours related to diet, physical activity, smoking and alcohol use. Clinical measurements comprised blood pressure, anthropometry and point-of-care random blood glucose and cholesterol assessments.
  
  
  
  Among the 7711 participants, 2488 men and 5223 women, mean ages were 47.6 years and 48.6 years, respectively. Prevalence of diabetes was 13.8% in men and 12.8% in women but only 1.8% (45) and 0.9% (47), respectively, were newly diagnosed. Another 14.5% (men) and 12.4% (women) had impaired glycaemia. Only 32.9% and 36.3% with known diabetes were controlled. Hypertension was prevalent in 51.8% of men and 48.9% of women, 52.0% and 63.1% of whom were using anti-hypertensive medication; 43.2% of men and 45.5% of women on anti-hypertensive medication were controlled.
  
  
  
  Very few individuals with newly diagnosed diabetes were identified, which underscores the need for cost-effective targeted screening of high-risk individuals to optimize diagnosis. Furthermore, the suboptimal levels of diabetes and hypertension control highlights the need for improved care.
authors.affiliation: Non-communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Durban 4001, South Africa.|Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 8001, South Africa.
authors.forename: Nasheeta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Peer
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Durban 4001, South Africa.
authors.forename: Yusentha
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Balakrishna
authors.affiliation: Non-communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa.
authors.forename: Anniza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Villiers
authors.affiliation: Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, Durban 4001, South Africa.
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crickmore
authors.affiliation: Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, Cape Town 8001, South Africa.
authors.forename: Vash
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mungal-Singh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents