Hypertension and overweight/obesity in Ghanaians and Nigerians living in West Africa and industrialized countries

Abstract

Hypertension and overweight/obesity are highly prevalent conditions in West Africa and in its migrants residing in industrialized countries. Urgent measures are needed to prevent CVD risk factors and halt the clinical sequelae.

Secular trends in admissions and mortality rates from diabetes mellitus in the Central Belt of Ghana: a 31-year review

“…Female diabetes patients tended to be older than male patients with the difference in mean age attaining statistical significance in 3 out of the 31 years under review. The rising rates of diabetes admissions and increasing mean age of admitted patients is reflective of the increasing longevity of the citizenry of Ghanaians most especially females [23,29,30]. The 28-day in-patient mortality from diabetes admissions of 18.5% observed in this study ranks among the highest in the published literature.…”

“…Overall female gender dominated the number of admitted cases of diabetes in this cohort. This is largely explained by the higher prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity among women [21][22][23][24]. Additionally, women live relatively longer than men and as a result are exposed to diabetes and other non-communicable diseases [15].…”

“…For instance, about four in five adult Ghanaians has been recorded not to engage in enough physical activity [20][21][22]. On the other hand, obesity rates have increased significantly over a relatively short period of time [20,23,24]. From a recorded prevalence of 25.5% in 2003, obesity rates have increased to 30.5% of the general adult population by the year 2008 [25].…”

“…The rising rates of diabetes admissions and increasing mean age of admitted patients is reflective of the increasing longevity of the citizenry of Ghanaians attended by modest improvements in the socio-economic status leading to urbanisation and adoption of western life-styles that are serving as undercurrents for the epidemiological transition being experienced by many LMICs [19,20]. Accordingly, the population prevalence of vascular risk factors in particular obesity, physical inactivity, systemic arterial hypertension has escalated in several countries across Africa culminating in the rising burden of diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. For instance, about four in five adult Ghanaians has been recorded not to engage in enough physical activity [20][21][22].…”

Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Disease Risk of Ghanaian‐ and Nigerian‐Born West African Immigrants in the United States: The Afro‐Cardiac Study

“…The Framingham Heart Study and other landmark studies2, 3, 4 have demonstrated that CVD risk factors—smoking, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, physical inactivity, and diabetes mellitus—synergistically increase CVD risk and death. Likewise, in sub‐Saharan Africa, CVD is becoming a leading cause of morbidity and mortality because of the increasing prevalence of CVD risk factors attributed to the “epidemiological transition,” characterized by shifts in disease and mortality patterns from infectious diseases to noncommunicable diseases as major causes of morbidity and mortality 5, 6…”