Marianne A. B. van der Sande|Paul Milligan|Ousman Nyan|Jane Rowley|Winston Banya|S. M. Ceesay|W.M.V. Dolmans|Th. Thien|Keith P. W. J. McAdam|Gijs Walraven
Blood pressure patterns and cardiovascular risk factors in rural and urban Gambian communities
MRC Unit the Gambia|MRC Unit the Gambia|MRC Unit the Gambia|MRC Unit the Gambia|MRC Unit the Gambia|MRC Unit the Gambia|Radboud University Nijmegen|Radboud University Nijmegen|MRC Unit the Gambia|MRC Unit the Gambia
hypertension emerging important public health problem subsaharan africa studied blood pressure bp patterns hypertension cardiovascular risk factors rural urban area gambia total 5389 adults 15 years selected cluster sampling capital banjul rural area around farafenni questionnaire completed bp pulse rate height weight recorded glucose measured 2 h 75 g glucose load among participants 35 years n 2301 total cholesterol triglycerides creatinine uric acid measured among stratified subsample n 1075 total 71 study participants bp 16095 mm hg 184 bp 14090 mm hg bp significantly higher urban area bp increased age sexes areas increasing age major independent risk factor hypertension related cardiovascular risk factors obesity diabetes hyperlipidaemia significantly prevalent urban area among hypertensives 17 measured hypertensives aware 73 people reported diagnosed hypertensive discontinued treatment 56 reported treatment normotensive conclude hypertension longer rare either urban rural gambians urban site hypertension related cardiovascular risk factors prevalent compliance treatment low interventions aimed modifying risk factors population level improving control diagnosed hypertension essential prevent future increases cardiovascular morbidity mortality view limited resources feasibility intervention rural gambia could initially directed towards urbanised populations