Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Global Health. 2011 Nov 23;7:44. doi: 10.1186/1744-8603-7-44.
Cameroon is experiencing an increase in the burden of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which accounted for 43% of all deaths in 2002. This article reviews the published literature to critically evaluate the evidence on the frequency, determinants and consequences of NCDs in Cameroon, and to identify research, intervention and policy gaps. The rising trends in NCDs have been documented for hypertension and diabetes, with a 2-5 and a 10-fold increase in their respective prevalence between 1994 and 2003. Magnitudes are much higher in urban settings, where increasing prevalence of overweight/obesity (by 54-82%) was observed over the same period. These changes largely result from the adoption of unfavorable eating habits, physical inactivity, and a probable increasing tobacco use. These behavioral changes are driven by the economic development and social mobility, which are part of the epidemiologic transition. There is still a dearth of information on chronic respiratory diseases and cancers, as well as on all NDCs and related risk factors in children and adolescents. More nationally representative data is needed to tract risk factors and consequences of NCDs. These conditions are increasingly been recognized as a priority, mainly through locally generated evidence. Thus, national-level prevention and control programs for chronic diseases (mainly diabetes and hypertension) have been established. However, the monitoring and evaluation of these programs is necessary. Budgetary allocations data by the ministry of health would be helpful, to evaluate the investment in NCDs prevention and control. Establishing more effective national-level tobacco control measures and food policies, as well as campaigns to promote healthy diets, physical activity and tobacco cessation would probably contribute to reducing the burden of NCDs.
喀麦隆正面临慢性非传染性疾病（NCD）负担不断增加的问题，这些疾病在 2002 年占所有死亡人数的 43%。本文回顾了已发表的文献，批判性地评估了喀麦隆 NCD 的频率、决定因素和后果的证据，并确定了研究、干预和政策方面的差距。高血压和糖尿病的 NCD 上升趋势已有记录，其患病率在 1994 年至 2003 年间分别增加了 2-5 倍和 10 倍。在城市环境中，情况更为严重，超重/肥胖的患病率在此期间增加了 54-82%。这些变化主要是由于不良饮食习惯、缺乏身体活动以及烟草使用可能增加所致。这些行为变化是由经济发展和社会流动推动的，这是流行病学转变的一部分。目前，有关慢性呼吸道疾病和癌症以及儿童和青少年所有 NCD 和相关风险因素的信息仍然匮乏。需要更多全国代表性的数据来追踪 NCD 的风险因素和后果。这些疾病越来越被视为优先事项，主要是通过本地产生的证据。因此，已经制定了国家一级的慢性病（主要是糖尿病和高血压）预防和控制方案。然而，有必要对这些方案进行监测和评估。卫生部的预算拨款数据将有助于评估对 NCD 预防和控制的投资。制定更有效的国家一级烟草控制措施和食品政策，以及促进健康饮食、身体活动和戒烟的宣传活动，可能有助于减轻 NCD 的负担。
