Burden attributable to Cardiometabolic Diseases in Zimbabwe: a retrospective cross-sectional study of national mortality data

Abstract

BackgroundCardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) are an important cause of mortality worldwide and the burden associated with them is increasing in Sub-Saharan Africa. The tracking of mortality helps support evidence based health policy and priority setting. Given the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Zimbabwe, a study was designed to determine the mortality attributable to CMDs in Zimbabwe.MethodsThe study design was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of national mortality from 1996 to 2007, collated by the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare in Zimbabwe. We employed generalized additive models to flexibly estimate the trend of the CMD mortality and a logistic regression model was used to find significant factors (cause of death according to the death certificate) of the CMD mortality and predict CMD mortality to 2040.ResultsCMDs accounted for 8.13 % (95 % CI: 8.08 % - 8.18 %) of all deaths during 1996 to 2007 (p = 0.005). During the study period CMD mortality rate increased by 29.4 % (95 % CI: 19.9 % - 41.1 %). The association between gender and CMD mortality indicated female mortality was higher for diabetes (p < 0.001), hypertensive disease (p < 0.001), CVD (p < 0.001) and pulmonary disease (p < 0.001), while male mortality was higher for ischaemic (p = 0.010) and urinary diseases (p < 0.001). There was no gender difference for endocrine disease (p = 0.893). Overall, females have 1.65 % higher mortality than males (p < 0.001). CMD mortality is predicted to increase from 9.6 % (95 % CI: 8.0 % - 11.1 %) in 2015 to 13.7 % (95 % CI: 10.2 % - 17.2 %) in 2040 for males, and from 11.6 % (95 % CI: 10.2 % - 12.9 %) in 2015 to 16.2 % (95 % CI: 13.1 % - 19.3 %) in 2040 in females.ConclusionThe findings of this study indicate a growing prevalence of CMDs and related mortality in Zimbabwe. Health policy decisions and cost-effective preventive strategies to reduce the burden of CMDs are urgently required.

Utilization of Health Care and Burden of Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure in Zimbabwe: Results from a National Household Survey

“…15 Zimbabwe is also facing an increasing burden from NCDs. 16 Cerebrovascular disease is one of the leading causes of disability-adjusted life years. 17 Given the increasing burden of chronic diseases in Zimbabwe, 16 a focus on preventive care to avert high treatment costs of NCDs and a more balanced budget with more funds provided for preventive services could help avoid high OOP and CHE.…”

“…16 Cerebrovascular disease is one of the leading causes of disability-adjusted life years. 17 Given the increasing burden of chronic diseases in Zimbabwe, 16 a focus on preventive care to avert high treatment costs of NCDs and a more balanced budget with more funds provided for preventive services could help avoid high OOP and CHE. 18 This study also found that OOP spending plays a significant role in financing the health system in Zimbabwe.…”

Comprehensive occupational health services for healthcare workers in Zimbabwe during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

“…Tuberculosis (TB), another air-borne disease, is highly prevalent in Zimbabwe [ 12 ], with healthcare workers at elevated risk compared to the general population [ 13 ]. Zimbabweans have a high burden of chronic disease, much of which is undiagnosed, which likely affects healthcare workers to a similar extent to the rest of the population [ 14 ]. Such diseases include HIV, with an adult prevalence estimated at 12.7% [ 15 ], and non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes [ 16 – 18 ].…”

Prevalence of Selected Risk Factors for Cardiometabolic Disease among University Staff in the Western Cape, South Africa

“…Cardiometabolic disease is becoming progressively widespread in sub-Saharan African (SSA) nations [6], with the prevalence fluctuating from zero to about fifty percent depending on the inhabitant's location [7]. Data from some SSA countries have revealed a high mortality rate due to CMD, ranging from 17% in Zambia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe to 36% in Cameroon [8]. The incidence of CMD in SSA could be understood to be motivated by substituting the usual African lifestyle for a Westernised one [9].…”

“…The incidence of CMD in SSA could be understood to be motivated by substituting the usual African lifestyle for a Westernised one [9]. Reasons for lifestyle change have been attributed to technological advancement, speedy urbanization, a drop in work-related physical activity, increased ingestion of nutrition that is plentiful in sugar, saturated fats, and salt/processed foods [8,9].…”