Prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of evidence

Abstract

BackgroundNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a growing global health challenge disproportionately impacting low- and middle-income settings, including Ethiopia. Currently, the body of evidence describing the burden of NCDs is fragmented, inconsistent, health facility- or institution-based, and out-dated in Ethiopia. We conducted a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis of the prevalence of NCDs in community settings in Ethiopia.Review methodologyCommunity-based quantitative studies published in English between January 1st, 2012, and June 30th, 2022, that reported on the prevalence of NCDs in Ethiopia were included. A systematic search of Medline, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and Global Health using pretested search terms related to NCDs was conducted, and data were extracted using a piloted data extraction proforma adapted from the Joanna Briggs Institute tool. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 16. While the pooled prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and undiagnosed (DM) was computed and presented using forest plots, then overall prevalence of NCDs and other various types of NCDs were narratively synthesized. I2 was used to assess heterogeneity. Studies that did not fulfill the criteria (used similar tool to measure the types of NCDs) for meta-analysis were narratively synthesized.ResultsTwenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Five studies measured the prevalence of NCDs (all NCDs together), ranging from 29 to 35% (prevalence estimates not pooled). The pooled prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) across ten studies was 5% (95% CI: 4–7%). Three studies each reported on the prevalence of undiagnosed DM (pooled prevalence 5%, 95% CI: 4–7%) and pre-DM (pooled prevalence 7%, 95% CI: 3–14%%). In a narrative analysis the prevalence of cardiovascular conditions ranged from 13.4 to 32.2% (n = 3 studies), cancer mortality ranged from 4 to 18% (n = 3 studies) and respiratory conditions ranged from 1 to 18% (n = 3 studies). Some studies have determined more than one NCDs and that is why the total number of studies are exceeding more than twenty studies.Conclusion and recommendationsOur analysis found that approximately one-third of Ethiopians have an NCD, with cardiovascular diseases the most common of all NCDs. The prevalence of respiratory conditions also appears high, but there are insufficient data for a pooled estimate. Whilst the prevalence of DM appears relatively low, there is evidence that the magnitude is increasing. Public health actions to address the high burden of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as the increasing magnitude of DM in Ethiopia, must be prioritized.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO [CRD42020196815].

Prevalence of Glycemic Control and Factors Associated With Poor Glycemic Control: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…21 The results of a meta-analysis in Ethiopia also showed that the overall prevalence of diabetes mellitus is 5.5%. 22 Diabetes mellitus has been a major public health challenge in the health care system with more than 5% of the population have undiagnosed DM. 23 This is associated with poor glycemic control.…”

Scaling up noncommunicable disease care in a resource-limited context: lessons learned and implications for policy

“…Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are fast becoming the major cause of death and disability in many resource-limited countries especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ethiopia, NCDs together with injuries currently account for 44% of the total annual mortality [1] with cardiovascular/respiratory disease and diabetes being the major causes [2]. Yet the country remains among the world's lowest income countries with a per capita gross national income of $960 and 24% of the population living below the poverty line (US$ 1.90 per day) with correspondingly low per capita health expenditure [3].…”

Epidemiological characteristics of chronic non-communicable diseases in Dongfang, China, 2021: a cross-sectional survey

“… 1 International organisations regularly released the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study (GBD), 2 which exposed the transition in disease patterns as a result of economy development, demographic changes and changes in the living environment, lifestyles and psychological structure of the population. 3 4 In 2015, the United Nations (UN) proposed reducing premature mortality from chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by one-third as one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 5 As the most populous developing country in the world, China recorded that the prevalence of NCDs has increased from 17.0% in 1993 to 34.3% in 2018 and the burden of disease resulting from NCDs as a percentage of the total disability-adjusted life years increased by 21.31%.…”