Abstract
BackgroundMiddle and lower income countries are challenged with a double burden of disease: while still coping with the onslaught of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and increasing levels of tuberculosis (TB), there is a considerable increase in the level of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The poor are especially disadvantaged and are at an increased risk for NCDs. Adequate healthcare resources for this environment can only be allocated once the extent and exact nature of the problem is determined.Aim and settingThe aim of this study was to collect demographic and NCD-related data in the poorest community of the poorest province of South Africa in order to determine the extent of the problem and advise on allocation of resources accordingly.MethodsData were collected via a household primary health screening process, which included taking anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and blood glucose and referring to clinics for further testing and treatment where necessary.ResultsIt was found that the population screened was generally older, consisted of women, and had a high incidence of obesity and hypertension. Of note was the fact that in those without known hypertension, close to 40% of individuals had possible newly diagnosed hypertension. This increased with increase in age and body mass index (BMI). The total prevalence of diabetes was close to 5%, but possible new diabetes was considerably lower at approximately 1%.ConclusionIn this rural area of the Eastern Cape, South Africa, undiagnosed hypertension is a major concern and renewed efforts at detection and control are warranted.
Highlights
The threat of noncommunicable disease (NCD) has been recognised globally and the World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target to reduce the overall mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases by 25% by 2025.1 The latest WHO report on diabetes shows a doubling in the prevalence of diabetes between 1980 and 2014
The aim of this paper is to report on the findings of adult body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and glucose measurements from the Health in Every Hut (HiEH) programme screening
Despite the mean age reflecting 44.5 years, the standard deviation is large and the actual age distribution as given in Figure 1 reflects the picture of a population that is on the one hand ageing and on the other under 25, with fewer people of working age in-between
Summary
The threat of noncommunicable disease (NCD) has been recognised globally and the World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target to reduce the overall mortality (from the 2010 baseline) from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases by 25% by 2025.1 The latest WHO report on diabetes shows a doubling in the prevalence of diabetes between 1980 and 2014 (from 3.1% to 7.1%, from 4 million to 25 million people). The increase in diabetes prevalence is most pronounced in the lower to middle income countries (LMIC). Middle and lower income countries are challenged with a double burden of disease: while still coping with the onslaught of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and increasing levels of tuberculosis (TB), there is a considerable increase in the level of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Adequate healthcare resources for this environment can only be allocated once the extent and exact nature of the problem is determined
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