Diagnosis, Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, Prevention, and Control of Hypertension in Cameroon: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinic-Based and Community-Based Studies

Ethnicity Disparities in the Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control Rates of Hypertension in China

Objectives

Previous studies reported that there were disparities in hypertension management among different ethnic groups, and this study aimed to systematically determine the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension in multiple Chinese ethnic groups.

Methods

We searched Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science for articles up to 25 October, 2022. The pooled prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension were estimated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The heterogeneity of estimates among studies was assessed by the Cochran Q test and I ² statistic. Meta-regression analyses were conducted to identify the factors influencing the heterogeneity of the pooled prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rate of hypertension.

Results

In total, 45 publications including 193,788 cases and 587,826 subjects were eligible for the analyses. The lowest prevalence was found in the Han group (27.0%), and the highest prevalence was in the Mongolian population (39.8%). The awareness rates ranged from 24.4% to 58.0% in the four ethnic groups. Both the highest treatment and control rates were found in the Mongolian population (50.6% and 16.0%, respectively), whereas the Yi group had the lowest control rate (8.0%). In addition, the study year, the mean age of subjects, mean body mass index of subjects, tobacco use (%), alcohol use (%), residence (urban%), and education (primary school%) had varied effects on heterogeneity.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the disparities in prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension in a different ethnic population of China, which could provide suggestions for making targeted prevention measures.

Promise of Physiological Profiling to Prevent Stroke in People of African Ancestry: Prototyping Ghana

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Worldwide, compared to other racial/ethnic groups, individuals of African ancestry have an excessively higher burden of hypertension-related morbidities, especially stroke. Identifying modifiable biological targets that contribute to these disparities could improve global stroke outcomes. In this scoping review, we discuss how pathological perturbations in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone pathways could be harnessed via physiological profiling for the purposes of improving blood pressure control for stroke prevention among people of African ancestry.

RECENT FINDINGS

Transcontinental comparative data from the USA and Ghana show that the prevalence of treatment-resistant hypertension among stroke survivors is 42.7% among indigenous Africans, 16.1% among African Americans, and 6.9% among non-Hispanic Whites, p < 0.0001. A multicenter clinical trial of patients without stroke in 3 African countries (Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa) demonstrated that physiological profiling using plasma renin activity and aldosterone to individualize selection of antihypertensive medications compared with usual care resulted in better blood pressure control with fewer medications over 12 months. Among Ghanaian ischemic stroke survivors treated without renin-aldosterone profiling data, an analysis revealed that those with low renin phenotypes did not achieve any meaningful reduction in blood pressure over 12 months on 3-4 antihypertensive medications despite excellent adherence. For a polygenic condition such as hypertension, individualized therapy based on plasma renin-aldosterone-guided selection of therapy for uncontrolled BP following precision medicine principles may be a viable strategy for primary and secondary stroke prevention with the potential to reduce disparities in the poor outcomes of stroke disproportionately shared by individuals of African ancestry. A dedicated clinical trial to test this hypothesis is warranted.

Blood pressure and burden of hypertension in Cameroon, a microcosm of Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies

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To estimate national and geography-based variations in blood pressure and burden of hypertension in Cameroon, generally called ‘miniature Africa’.

A Qualitative Study of Transitions Between Health Care Settings After Injury in Cameroon

BACKGROUND

Populations in Cameroon, a lower middle-income country in Central Africa, have a higher than average burden of traumatic injury, suffer from more severe injuries, and face substantial barriers to accessing formal health care services after injury. The aim of this study was to identify and describe how recently injured Cameroonians use and adapt the formal and informal medical systems and what motivates these transitions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Recently injured people or their surrogates residing in Southwest Region, Cameroon, were recruited from a larger community-based survey on injury. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 39 recently injured persons or their adult family members. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and iteratively coded to identify major themes.

RESULTS

Most injured persons had complex therapeutic itineraries involving one or more transitions, and nine of 35 injured persons used formal care exclusively. Transitions away from formal care were driven by (1) anticipated costs beyond means, (2) unacceptable length of proposed treatment, (3) poorly supported referrals, (4) dissatisfaction with treatment progress or outcome, and (5) belief that traditional methods work additively with formal care. Factors motivating people to engage with formal care included (1) perceived high value of care for cost, (2) desire for reliable diagnostic tests, (3) social support during hospitalization, and (4) financial support from family or a stranger responsible for the injury.

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight specific opportunities to improve engagement in formal care after injury and better support injured Cameroonians through the strengthening of the formal care referral process and health financing organization.

Comparing the income-related inequity of tested prevalence and self-reported prevalence of hypertension in China

BACKGROUND

Hypertension has become a global health challenge given its high prevalence and but low awareness and detection. Whether the actual prevalence of hypertension has been estimated is important, especially for the poor. This study aimed to measure tested prevalence and self-reported prevalence of hypertension and compare the inequity between them in China.

METHODS

Data were derived from China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) conducted in 2011. By using the multistage, stratified, random sampling method, 12,168 respondents aged 18 or older were identified for analysis. Both tested prevalence (systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or/and diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg or /and current use any of antihypertensive medication) and self-reported prevalence (ever diagnosed with hypertension by a doctor) were used to measure the prevalence of hypertension. The concentration index was employed to measure the extent of inequality in tested prevalence and self-reported prevalence. A decomposition method, based on a Probit model, was used to analyze income-related horizontal inequity of tested prevalence and self-reported prevalence.

RESULTS

The tested prevalence and self-reported prevalence of total respondents were 28.8% [95% CI (28.0%, 29.6%)] and 15.7% [95% CI (15.0%, 16.3%)], and 26.4% [95% CI (25.1%, 27.6%)] and 19.0% [95% CI (17.9%, 20.1%)] in urban areas, and 30.3% [95% CI (29.3%, 31.4%)] and 13.5% [95% CI (12.7%, 14.3%)] in rural areas. The horizontal inequity indexes of mean tested prevalence and self-reported prevalence were - 0.0494 and 0.1203 of total respondents, - 0.0736 and 0.0748 in urban area, and - 0.0177 and 0.0466 in rural area respectively, indicating pro-poor inequity in tested prevalence and pro-rich inequity in self-reported prevalence of hypertension. Economic status, education attainment and age were key factors of the pro-poor inequity in tested prevalence. Economic status, area and age were key factors to explain the poor-rich inequity in self-reported prevalence.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed self-reported prevalence of hypertension was much lower than tested prevalence in China, while a larger gap between self-reported and tested prevalence was found in rural areas. Our study suggested social strategies aiming at narrowing economic gap and regional disparities, reducing educational inequity, and facilitating health conditions of the elderly should be implemented. Finally, awareness raising campaigns to test hypertension in rural area need be strengthened by health education programs and improving the access to public health service, especially for those who do not engage with regular health checkups.