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Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among young and middle-aged men in urban Mwanza, Tanzania

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Abstract

Aim

We conducted a health survey to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and explore their socioeconomic correlates in a population of young and middle-aged men in the fast-growing city of Mwanza, Tanzania.

Subjects and methods

A descriptive cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in Mwanza City among men aged 20–50 years. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, dietary history, physical activity and blood samples were collected according to the basic protocol of the WHO CARDIAC Study (Cardiovascular Disease and Alimentary Comparison).

Results

The prevalence of systolic hypertension, low HDL cholesterol, elevated LDL cholesterol, obesity and hypertriglyceridemia was 23.7%, 10.3%, 9.3%, 4.1% and 1.0%, respectively. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 3.1%. Age correlated positively with waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (p < 0.01) and body mass index (p = 0.05). Education had a positive correlation with body mass index, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (p < 0.01), waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio (p < 0.05). Income correlated positively with body mass index, waist circumference and total cholesterol (p = 0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that age was the most important determinant of the body mass index (β = 0.2, p = 0.02), waist circumference (β = 0.3, p = 0.01) and waist-to-hip ratio (β = 0.2, p = 0.002), while education predicted serum LDL cholesterol (β = 1.7, p = 0.03).

Conclusion

This urban population of young and middle-aged men demonstrated a low prevalence of CVD risk factors. The challenge is to maintain this low profile of CVD risk factors in the absence of national guidelines for prevention of CVD as rapid urbanization and nutrition transition take place in urban areas, including Mwanza City.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to the participants who kindly agreed to take part in this survey as well as the local government leaders of the study areas for being cooperative and making this study a success. Weill Bugando University College of Health Science provided us with transportation during data collection and temporary storage for the samples before their transportation to Japan. This study was partly supported by the International Medical Center of Japan and by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Marina Njelekela

  2. Harvard School of Public Health, Mail Box 846, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Alfa Muhihi

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Rose Mpembeni

  4. Department of Physiology, Weill Bugando University College of Health Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania

    Zablon Masesa & Jacob Mtabaji

  5. Department of Food and Nutritional Environment, Human Life and Environment, Kinjo Gakuin University, Nagoya, Japan

    Kazuya Kitamori

  6. Institute for World Health Development, Mukogawa Women’s University, Nishinomiya, Japan

    Mari Mori & Yukio Yamori

  7. Department of Gene Diagnostics and Therapeutic Research Institute, International Medical Center of Japan, Tokyo, Japan

    Norihiro Kato

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  1. Marina Njelekela
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  2. Alfa Muhihi
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  9. Yukio Yamori
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alfa Muhihi.

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Njelekela, M., Muhihi, A., Mpembeni, R. et al. Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among young and middle-aged men in urban Mwanza, Tanzania. J Public Health 19, 553–561 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-011-0419-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-011-0419-1

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