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It has been suggested that the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) is steadily increasing in subSaharan Africa. To address this issue, we conducted a Medline search of English language articles on cardiovascular diseasesFand specifically CAD in AfricaF from 1966 to 1997. The prevalence of CAD and related complications is relatively low in most regions in Africa compared to that obtained in the economically developed countries, although the situation is rapidly changing due to trends in urbanization, changes in lifestyle, acquisition of technology and the increasing numbers of tertiary care institutions. There are variations in reported prevalence rates within the different regions, but there is an upward trend in all the regions of the sub-Saharan Africa. This trend is believed to be related to the increasing frequencies of CAD risk factors in the subcontinent.

A report from panel members appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee titled "2014 Evidence-Based Guideline for the Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults" has garnered much attention due to its major change in recommendations for hypertension treatment for patients ≥60 years of age and for their treatment goal. In response, certain groups have opposed the decision to initiate pharmacologic treatment to lower blood pressure (BP) at systolic BP ≥150 mm Hg and treat to a goal systolic BP of <150 mm Hg in the general population age ≥60 years. This paper contains 3 sections–an introduction followed by the opinions of 2 writing groups–outlining objections to or support of maintaining this proposed strategy in certain at-risk populations, namely African Americans, women, and the elderly. Several authors argue for maintaining current targets, as opposed to adopting the new recommendations, to allow for optimal treatment for older women and African Americans, helping to close sex and race/ethnicity gaps in cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality.

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