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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: What we know now
International Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 40, No. 4, Article dyr050, Year 2011
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Description
Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has a disproportionate burden of both infectious and chronic diseases compared with other world regions. Current disease estimates for SSA are based on sparse data, but projections indicate increases in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) caused by demographic and epidemiologic transitions. We review the literature on NCDs in SSA and summarize data from the World Health Organization and International Agency for Research on Cancer on the prevalence and incidence of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus Type 2, cancer and their risk factors. Methods: We searched the PubMed database for studies on each condition, and included those that were community based, conducted in any SSA country and reported on disease or risk factor prevalence, incidence or mortality. Results: We found few community-based studies and some countries (such as South Africa) were over-represented. The prevalence of NCDs and risk factors varied considerably between countries, urban/ rural location and other sub-populations. The prevalence of stroke ranged from 0.07 to 0.3%, diabetes mellitus from 0 to 16%, hypertension from 6 to 48%, obesity from 0.4 to 43% and current smoking from 0.4 to 71%. Hypertension prevalence was consistently similar among men and women, whereas women were more frequently obese and men were more frequently current smokers. Conclusions: The prevalence of NCDs and their risk factors is high in some SSA settings. With the lack of vital statistics systems, epidemiologic studies with a variety of designs (cross-sectional, longitudinal and interventional) capable of in-depth analyses of risk factors could provide a better understanding of NCDs in SSA, and inform health-care policy to mitigate the oncoming NCD epidemic. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association © The Author 2011; all rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Dalal, Shona
United States, Boston
Harvard T.h. Chan School of Public Health
Beunza, Juan Jose
United States, Boston
Harvard T.h. Chan School of Public Health
Spain, Pamplona
Universidad de Navarra
Volmink, Jimmy A.
South Africa, Cape Town
Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Adebamowo, Clement
Nigeria, Abuja
Institute of Human Virology - Nigeria
United States, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore Umb
Bajunirwe, Francis
Uganda, Mbarara
Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Njelekela, Marina Alois
Tanzania, Dar es Salaam
Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
Mozaffarian, Dariush
United States, Boston
Harvard T.h. Chan School of Public Health
United States, Boston
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Fawzi, Wafaie W.
United States, Boston
Harvard T.h. Chan School of Public Health
Willett, Walter Churchill
United States, Boston
Harvard T.h. Chan School of Public Health
Adami, Hans Olov G.
Sweden, Stockholm
Karolinska Institutet
United States, Boston
Dana-farber/harvard Cancer Center
Holmes, Michelle D.
United States, Boston
Harvard T.h. Chan School of Public Health
United States, Boston
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Statistics
Citations: 587
Authors: 11
Affiliations: 10
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1093/ije/dyr050
ISSN:
03005771
e-ISSN:
14643685
Research Areas
Cancer
Health System And Policy
Noncommunicable Diseases
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Approach
Qualitative
Study Locations
South Africa
Participants Gender
Male
Female