Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), Rwanda Ministry of Health, Kigali, Rwanda.
Rwamagana Provincial Hospital, Rwamagana, Eastern Province, Rwanda.
BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2022 Apr 26;22(1):197. doi: 10.1186/s12872-022-02606-9.
Hypertension remains the major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) worldwide with a prevalence and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) among the highest. The early detection of hypertension risk factors is a crucial pillar for CVD prevention.
This cross-sectional study included 4284 subjects, mean age 46 ± 16SD, 56.4% females and mean BMI 26.6 ± 3.7 SD. Data were collected through a screening campaign in rural area of Kirehe District, Eastern of Rwanda, with the objective to characterize and examine the prevalence of elevated blood pressure (BP) and other CVD risk factors. An adapted tool from the World Health Organization STEPwise Approach was used for data collection. Elevated BP was defined as ≥ 140/90 mm/Hg and elevated blood glucose as blood glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL after a 6-h fast.
Of the sampled population, 21.2% (n = 910) had an elevated BP at screening; BP was elevated among individuals not previously known to have HTN in 18.7% (n = 752). Among individuals with a prior diagnosis of HTN, 62.2% (n = 158 of 254) BP was uncontrolled. Age, weight, smoking, alcohol history and waist circumference were associated with BP in both univariate analyses and multivariate analysis.
High rates of elevated BP identified through a health screening campaign in this Rwandan district were surprising given the rural characteristics of the district and relatively low population age. These data highlight the need to implement an adequate strategy for the prevention, diagnosis, and control of HTN that includes rural areas of Rwanda as part of a multicomponent strategy for CVD prevention.
高血压仍然是全球心血管疾病（CVD）的主要危险因素，在低收入和中等收入国家（LMICs）的患病率和死亡率最高。高血压危险因素的早期检测是 CVD 预防的重要支柱。
本横断面研究纳入了 4284 名受试者，平均年龄 46±16 标准差，56.4%为女性，平均 BMI 为 26.6±3.7 标准差。数据通过在卢旺达东部基里希区农村地区进行的筛查活动收集，目的是描述和检查高血压（BP）和其他 CVD 危险因素的患病率。采用世界卫生组织 STEPWISE 方法的改编工具进行数据收集。BP 升高定义为≥140/90mmHg，空腹 6 小时后血糖升高定义为血糖≥100mg/dL。
在抽样人群中，21.2%（n=910）在筛查时血压升高；在以前未被诊断为高血压的人群中，18.7%（n=752）血压升高。在以前被诊断为高血压的人群中，62.2%（n=158/254）的血压不受控制。年龄、体重、吸烟、饮酒史和腰围在单因素分析和多因素分析中均与 BP 相关。
在卢旺达这个地区的健康筛查活动中发现的高血压发病率很高，这令人惊讶，因为该地区的农村特征和相对较低的人口年龄。这些数据强调需要实施一项适当的策略，以预防、诊断和控制高血压，包括卢旺达农村地区，作为 CVD 预防的多组分策略的一部分。
