Systematic Review of Hypertension and Diabetes Burden, Risk Factors, and Interventions for Prevention and Control in Malawi: The NCD BRITE Consortium.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to identify the prevalence, risk factors, and interventions for hypertension and diabetes in Malawi, including the role of high salt intake.
Results Summary
The study found high salt intake to be a risk factor for hypertension and diabetes in Malawi, alongside other lifestyle and metabolic factors. No specific efficacy or safety outcomes related to salt were detailed.
Population
Sub-Saharan African population in Malawi, including individuals with hypertension, diabetes, and HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
old age | increase | hypertension and diabetes risk | Malawi population | - | associated | #1 |
tobacco smoking | increase | hypertension and diabetes risk | Malawi population | - | associated | #2 |
excessive alcohol consumption | increase | hypertension and diabetes risk | Malawi population | - | associated | #3 |
obesity | increase | hypertension and diabetes risk | Malawi population | - | associated | #4 |
physical inactivity | increase | hypertension and diabetes risk | Malawi population | - | associated | #5 |
high salt intake | increase | hypertension and diabetes risk | Malawi population | - | associated | #6 |
high sugar intake | increase | hypertension and diabetes risk | Malawi population | - | associated | #7 |
low fruit intake | increase | hypertension and diabetes risk | Malawi population | - | associated | #8 |
low vegetable intake | increase | hypertension and diabetes risk | Malawi population | - | associated | #9 |
high body mass index | increase | hypertension and diabetes risk | Malawi population | - | associated | #10 |
high waist-to-hip ratio | increase | hypertension and diabetes risk | Malawi population | - | associated | #11 |
certain antiretroviral therapy regimens | increase | diabetes and hypertension risk | human immunodeficiency virus patient populations | - | associated with increased | #12 |
Recent studies have found an increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. A compressive search of PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, and the World Health Organization Global Health Library databases was undertaken to identify studies reporting on the prevalence, risk factors, and interventions for hypertension and diabetes in Malawi. The findings from 23 included studies revealed a high burden of hypertension and diabetes in Malawi, with estimates ranging from 15.8% to 32.9% and from 2.4% to 5.6%, respectively. Associated risk factors included old age, tobacco smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, high salt and sugar intake, low fruit and vegetable intake, high body mass index, and high waist-to-hip ratio. Certain antiretroviral therapy regimens were also associated with increased diabetes and hypertension risk in human immunodeficiency virus patient populations. Nationwide, the quality of clinical care was generally limited and demonstrated a need for innovative and targeted interventions to prevent, control, and treat noncommunicable diseases in Malawi.