Prevalence, awareness and management of hypertension in Cameroon: findings of the 2003 Cameroon Burden of Diabetes Baseline Survey (original) (raw)

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 20, pages 91–92 (2006)Cite this article

This report describes the current prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in urban Cameroon, with data coming from the 2003 Cameroon Burden of Diabetes (CamBoD) Baseline Survey. A total of 10 011 adults (age ⩾15 years) participated. The prevalence of hypertension was 25.6% in male subjects and 23.1% in female subjects. Only 23% of all hypertensive patients were aware of their status, 10.8% were taking antihypertensive medication and 2% were controlled (blood pressure <140/90 mmHg under antihypertensive medication).

Hypertension is becoming a public health emergency worldwide, especially in developing countries, where studies projected an increase by 80% in the number of hypertensives by the year 2025.1 In Cameroon, surveys on hypertension report prevalence varying from 12 to 22% in those above 25 years.2, 3, 4 Treatment of hypertension is known to reduce the risk of occurrence of cardiovascular events. Therefore, the early detection, treatment and control of hypertension are the key components of the integrated management of cardiovascular risk. Unfortunately, studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa showed that awareness, detection and control of hypertension are generally poor.5, 6

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Acknowledgements

Potential conflict of interest: None. The survey described in this paper was carried out as part of the Cameroon Burden of Diabetes Project, funded by the World Diabetes Foundation, Grant WDF02-016.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health of Population in Transition (HoPiT) Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMSB), Yaoundé University I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
    R M Kamadjeu, J S Atanga, E C Kiawi & J-C Mbanya
  2. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Health Sciences, The Medical School, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
    R Edwards & N Unwin
  3. Department of Medicine and Human Diabetes and Metabolism Research Centre, The Medical School, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
    R Edwards

Authors

  1. R M Kamadjeu
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  2. R Edwards
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  3. J S Atanga
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  4. N Unwin
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  5. E C Kiawi
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  6. J-C Mbanya
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Correspondence toJ-C Mbanya.

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Kamadjeu, R., Edwards, R., Atanga, J. et al. Prevalence, awareness and management of hypertension in Cameroon: findings of the 2003 Cameroon Burden of Diabetes Baseline Survey.J Hum Hypertens 20, 91–92 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001936

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