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Review
. 2013 Oct 5:16:38.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2013.16.38.3100. eCollection 2013.

Status report on hypertension in Africa--consultative review for the 6th Session of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Health on NCD's

Steven van de Vijver  1 , Hilda Akinyi  2 , Samuel Oti  1 , Ademola Olajide  3 , Charles Agyemang  4 , Isabella Aboderin  2 , Catherine Kyobutungi  2
Affiliations
Review

Status report on hypertension in Africa--consultative review for the 6th Session of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Health on NCD's

Steven van de Vijver et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

Hypertension has always been regarded as a disease of affluence but this has changed drastically in the last two decades with average blood pressures now higher in Africa than in Europe and USA and the prevalence increasing among poor sections of society. We have conducted a literature search on PubMed on a broad range of topics regarding hypertension in Africa, including data collection from related documents from World Health Organization and other relevant organizations that are available in this field. We have shared the initial results and drafts with international specialists in the context of hypertension in Africa and incorporated their feedback. Hypertension is the number one risk factor for CVD in Africa. Consequently, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has taken over as number one cause of death in Africa and the total numbers will further increase in the next decades reflecting on the growing urbanization and related lifestyle changes. The new epidemic of hypertension and CVD is not only an important public health problem, but it will also have a big economic impact as a significant proportion of the productive population becomes chronically ill or die, leaving their families in poverty. It is essential to develop and share best practices for affordable and effective community-based programs in screening and treatment of hypertension. In order to prevent and control hypertension in the population, Africa needs policies developed and implemented through a multi-sectoral approach involving the Ministries of Health and other sectors including education, agriculture, transport, finance among others.

Keywords: Africa; Hypertension; cardiovascular diseases; control; risk factor; treatment.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of hypertension by sex in selected African countries that participated in the WHO-STEPS surveys (2003 to 2009)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Prevalence of hypertension in selected African countries that participated in the WHO-STEPS surveys (2003 to 2009)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Prevalence of hypertension by rural-urban residence in selected African countries participated in the World Health Survey (2003)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Prevalence of hypertension by age and sex in an urban poor population in Kenya
Figure 5
Figure 5
Rates of hypertension awareness, treatment and control in selected african countries by sex
Figure 6
Figure 6
Strategies for the prevention and control of hypertension
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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