Cardiovascular risk factors among the inhabitants of an urban Congolese community: results of the VITARAA Study

ObjectiveThe objective is to assess cardiovascular risk profile in an urban Congolese population.Design and MethodsFrom July 2007 to March 2008, we investigated 1824 inhabitants (≥ 10 year old) randomly recruited from the Adoula quarter (Kinshasa, Congo). Measurements included: anthropometry, medical history and lifestyle habits via questionnaire, blood pressure and pulse rate (Omron M6, HEM 7001E), blood glucose, plasma lipids, and semi-quantitative proteinuria tests. We used stepwise logistic regression to model the odds for hypertension and diabetes.ResultsIn 1292 adult participants ≥ 20 years (56.6% women, mean age 37 ± 15 years), the prevalence of hypertension and known diabetes was 30.9% and 4.2%, respectively. Among participants with hypertension respectively 46.6%, 29.3% and 18.3% were aware, on treatment and controlled. Control was better among women and subjects below age 55, but lower in overweight/obese subjects. The odds for hypertension independently increased with age (P < 0.0001), overweight/obesity (P < 0.0001), pulse rate (P = 0.0249) and high legumes consumption (P = 0.0453). The odds for diabetes increased with age (P = 0.0009) and overweight/obesity (P = 0.0016). The prevalence of other risk factors was 5.5%, 42.2%, 42.8% and 30.9%, for smoking, overweight/obesity, abdominal adiposity and hypercholesterolemia; 4.6% of participants had proteinuria. Smoking predominated in men (10.8% vs. 1.4%), obesity (8.6% vs. 21.5%) and hypercholesterolemia (23.2% vs. 37.4%) in women. Hypertension clustered with three or more risk factors including diabetes or proteinuria in 68.7%.ConclusionOur findings highlight the staggering rates of cardiovascular risk factors in sub-Saharan Africa and underscore the pressing need to move their prevention and control higher on the political agenda.