Cardiovascular risk factors among the inhabitants of an urban Congolese community: Results of the VITARAA Study

Abstract Objective The objective is to assess cardiovascular risk profile in an urban Congolese population. Design and Methods From July 2007 to March 2008, we investigated 1824 inhabitants (≥ 10 year old) randomly recruited from the Adoula quarter (Kinshasa, Congo). Measurements included: anthropometry, medical history and lifestyle habits via questionnaire, blood pressure and pulse rate (Omron M6, HEM 7001E), blood glucose, plasma lipids, and semi-quantitative proteinuria tests. We used stepwise logistic regression to model the odds for hypertension and diabetes. Results In 1292 adult participants ≥ 20 years (56.6% women, mean age 37 ± 15 years), the prevalence of hypertension and known diabetes was 30.9% and 4.2%, respectively. Among participants with hypertension respectively 46.6%, 29.3% and 18.3% were aware, on treatment and controlled. Control was better among women and subjects below age 55, but lower in overweight/obese subjects. The odds for hypertension independently increased with age ( P P P  = 0.0249) and high legumes consumption ( P  = 0.0453). The odds for diabetes increased with age ( P  = 0.0009) and overweight/obesity ( P  = 0.0016). The prevalence of other risk factors was 5.5%, 42.2%, 42.8% and 30.9%, for smoking, overweight/obesity, abdominal adiposity and hypercholesterolemia; 4.6% of participants had proteinuria. Smoking predominated in men (10.8% vs. 1.4%), obesity (8.6% vs. 21.5%) and hypercholesterolemia (23.2% vs. 37.4%) in women. Hypertension clustered with three or more risk factors including diabetes or proteinuria in 68.7%. Conclusion Our findings highlight the staggering rates of cardiovascular risk factors in sub-Saharan Africa and underscore the pressing need to move their prevention and control higher on the political agenda.