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Non-communicable disease comorbidities in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
S B Kushitor1, O A Sanuade, L Baatiema
1Food Security Initiative and Centre for Complex Systems in Transition, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa. boatemaa@sun.ac.za.
Insights
Non-communicable disease comorbidity, particularly hypertension and diabetes, is rising in South Africa. This study found high comorbidity rates in vulnerable groups, with poor control despite awareness.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Rising prevalence of non-communicable disease (NCD) comorbidity in low- and middle-income countries.
- Inadequate evidence on NCD comorbidity patterns, prevalence, awareness, and treatment.
- Increasing burden of chronic diseases necessitates localized research.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate hypertension and diabetes comorbidity prevalence in Mpumza, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Assess awareness, treatment, and control of comorbid hypertension and diabetes.
- Identify underlying sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 587 participants in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (2015).
- Descriptive statistics (percentages) and inferential statistics (cross-tabulations, chi-squared tests).
- Analysis of sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors.
Main Results:
- Hypertension prevalence: 32%; Diabetes prevalence: 9%; Comorbid hypertension and diabetes: 6%.
- Comorbidity significantly higher in women, aged, obese, and formerly married individuals.
- High awareness (86%) but low control (13%) of comorbidities, despite treatment (74%).
Conclusions:
- Significant burden of comorbid hypertension and diabetes in vulnerable populations (women, obese, low education) in Mpumza, SA.
- Low comorbidity control poses a risk for macrovascular and microvascular complications.
- Need for targeted interventions to improve comorbidity management and reduce disease risk.
Background:
The prevalence of chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) comorbidity in low- to middle-income countries is increasing, yet evidence on the pattern, prevalence, awareness and treatment of NCD comorbidity is inadequate.
Objectives:
To investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of comorbid hypertension and diabetes, and the underlying risk factors in Mpumza, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa (SA).
Methods:
Data were gathered by the SA Human Sciences Research Council from 587 participants in KwaZulu-Natal in 2015. Percentages were used to describe all the variables. Cross-tabulations and χ2 tests were used to describe variations in the prevalences of hypertension, diabetes and comorbidities according to sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables and lifestyle risk factors.
Results:
Approximately a third of the participants had hypertension (32%) and 9% had diabetes. The prevalence of comorbid hypertension and diabetes was 6%, and this was significantly higher among women, the aged, the obese, and the formerly married compared with their counterparts. Comorbidity awareness was high (86%). Although most of the participants with comorbidities were being treated with lifestyle changes, insulin and antihypertensive medication (74%), control of comorbidities was low (13%).
Conclusions:
The study reported a higher burden of comorbid hypertension and diabetes among vulnerable populations in Mpumza, SA, particularly women, the obese, and those with a low level of education. In addition, control of comorbidities was low. Developing appropriate interventions to improve control of comorbidities can reduce the risk of macrovascular and microvascular diseases in this population.
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