Browsing by Author "Roman, Wilfrida"

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Assessment of lifestyle risk factors among cardiovascular disease patients attending Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in Tanzania
(NM-AIST, 2019-04) Roman, Wilfrida
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been the leading causes of hospital admissions in Tanzania. Hypertension (HTN) and coronary artery diseases (CHD) are two most common CVDs frequently diagnosed causes of deaths in Tanzanian hospitals. This hospital basedcross-sectional study conducted to assess lifestyle risk factors and levels of biomarkers for CVDs in patients with HTN and CHD attending cardiac clinic at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre-referral hospital. Structured questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle risk factors, while anthropometric measurements were taken to assess nutritional status of patients. Blood samples were collected from each patient and analyzed by Cobas Integra and Maglumi analyzers, to detect and quantify concentration of biomarkers. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze socio-demographic, lifestyle risk factors and studied biomarkers for CVDs. Pearson’s Chi-Square (χ 2 ) tests were used to associate risk factors for HTN and CHD while multinomial logistic regression was used to determine independent predictors of HTN and CHD. Majority of the patients (65%) were diagnosed with HTN, and 35% with CHD. The most prevalent risk factors for HTN and CHD were: alcohol intake (67%), high blood pressure (59%), physical inactivity (61%), obesity (39%), alanine aminotransferase (43%), high-density lipoprotein (79%), low-density lipoprotein (65%), C-reactive protein (78%), sodium (41%) and potassium (40%). Moreover, age (p = 0.007, CI = 0.047-0.612), plasma glucose (p = 0.016, CI = 0.62-0.76), alanine aminotransferase (p = 0.035, CI = 0.12-0.93), and C-reactive protein (p = 0.018, CI = 0.080.79) were independently associated with HTN and CHD. The study affirmed higher exposure of patients to CVDs risk factors despite them being under medical management. The results herein call for sensitization programs, to include more interventions, such as health and nutrition education to raise patients’ awareness on lifestyle modifications.
Assessment of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among patients attending cardiac clinic at a referral hospital in Tanzania
(AME Publishing Company, 2019-04-12) Roman, Wilfrida; Martin, Haikael; Nkya, Elingarami
Background: Mortality and morbidity due to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are escalating worldwide, with disproportionately significant worse outcomes in developing countries, due to rapid health and nutrition transition resulting from unplanned urbanization, negative effects of globalization and sedentary lifestyles. Despite the growing trends of CVDs cases in hospital settings especially in Tanzania, still no study has been conducted to evaluate CVD risk factors among patients attending cardiac clinics, to see how they respond to current treatment. This study aimed at assessing lifestyle risk factors and biomarkers associated with hypertension and coronary heart diseases among patients attending cardiac clinics at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre referral hospital in Tanzania. Methods: This was a cross-sectional hospital-based study conducted to determine the prevalence of lifestyle and intermediate risk factors for hypertension and coronary heart disease among patients with hypertension and coronary heart diseases who attended the cardiac clinic at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre referral hospital between April to July 2008. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, medical condition and lifestyle risk factors for hypertension and coronary heart diseases were collected using a structured questionnaire. Blood samples were collected from each patient and analyzed by Cobas Integra and Maglumi analyzers, to detect and quantify important biomarkers. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze sociodemographic, lifestyle risk factors and biomarkers for hypertension and coronary heart diseases. Pearson’s chi-square (χ 2 ) tests were used to associate risk factors for hypertension and coronary heart diseases, and multinomial logistic regression was used to determine independent predictors for hypertension and coronary heart diseases. Results: Of the 100 patients recruited to participate in the study, 65% had hypertension, 23% had coronary heart diseases and 12% had both disease conditions. The most prevalent risk factors for hypertension and coronary heart diseases were: alcohol intake (67%), high blood pressure (59%), physical inactivity (61%), obesity (39%), alanine aminotransferase (43%), high-density lipoprotein (79%), low-density lipoprotein (65%), C-reactive protein (78%), sodium (41%) and potassium (40%). Moreover, age, plasma glucose, alanine aminotransferase, and C-reactive protein were found to be independently and positively associated with hypertension and coronary heart diseases. Conclusions: This study affirmed the exposure of patients to cardiovascular risk factors, despite being under medical management. These findings call for sensitization programs and additional interventions in the management of CVDs among patients attending cardiac clinics in Tanzania hospitals, to include health education on lifestyle risk factors modification and proper dietary habits.
Cardiovascular diseases in Tanzania: The burden of modifiable and intermediate risk factors
(AME Publishing Company, 2019-08-27) Roman, Wilfrida; Martin, Haikael; Sauli, Elingarami
Abstract: Tanzania, like other developing countries, is facing a higher burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The country is experiencing rapid growth of modifiable and intermediate risk factors that accelerate CVD mortality and morbidity rates. In rural and urban settings, cardiovascular risk factors such as tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, overweight, and obesity, are documented to be higher in this review. Increased urbanization, lifestyle changes, lack of awareness and rural to urban movement have been found to increase CVD risk factors in Tanzania. Despite the identification of modifiable risk factors for CVDs, there is still limited information on physical inactivity and eating habits among Tanzanian population that needs to be addressed. Conclusively, primary prevention, improved healthcare system, which include affordable health services, availability of trained health care providers, improved screening and diagnostic equipment, adequate guidelines, and essential drugs for CVDs are the key actions that need to be implemented for cost effective control and management of CVDs. Effective policy for control and management of CVDs should also properly be employed to ensure fruitful implementation of different interventions