Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heart disease risk in African patients with high blood pressure
By Getahun GK et al.·2026·School of Public Health·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Systematic review and meta-analysis of cardiovascular disease risk among hypertensive patients in Africa.
Plain-English summary
This research looked at the risk of heart disease in people with high blood pressure in Africa. It found that about 26% of these patients are at a high risk of developing heart disease within the next ten years. Factors that increase this risk include being over 64 years old, being male, not being able to read or write, living in urban areas, smoking, and having other ongoing health issues. The study highlights that there are many different reasons for this risk, and it suggests that more specific research is needed for different countries in Africa. Overall, the findings indicate that a significant number of hypertensive patients in Africa are at high risk for heart disease.
Abstract
<h4>Introduction</h4>Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the foremost cause of death globally, with a disproportionately high burden in low- and middle-income countries. In Africa, CVDs pose a significant and growing public health challenge, and hypertension being a leading cause of cardiac complications. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the pooled prevalence of high 10-year CVD risk and associated determinants among hypertensive patients in Africa.<h4>Methods</h4>Peer-reviewed literature was systematically identified through a search of multiple bibliographic databases, including MEDLINE/PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and AJOL. Data were extracted into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and subsequently analyzed in STATA 17. To evaluate heterogeneity across the selected studies, the Cochrane Q test and I<sup>2</sup> statistic were utilized. Furthermore, the potential for publication bias was examined using Egger's test and visual inspection of funnel plots.<h4>Results</h4>The pooled estimate revealed that 26% (95% CI: 22-30%) of hypertensive patients in Africa were at high risk of developing a CVD within ten years. Factors significantly associated with high cardiovascular risk included age >64 years (AOR = 3.34, 95% CI: 1.69-4.98), male sex (AOR = 2.74, 95% CI: 1.51-3.98), unable to read and write (AOR = 5.13, 95% CI: 1.39-8.86), urban residence (AOR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.48-2.27), smoking (AOR = 4.64, 95% CI: 2.9-6.38), and the presence of chronic comorbidities (AOR = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.88-3.89).<h4>Conclusion</h4>This systematic review and meta-analysis concluded that a substantial proportion of hypertensive patients in Africa are at high-risk of CVD within a decade. This risk is influenced by a range of demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic factors. The significant heterogeneity observed across studies underscores the need for decentralized, country-specific data and interventions. Future research should prioritize prospective cohort studies to better understand the determinants of CVD risk and evaluate the effectiveness of tailored strategies to mitigate the escalating burden of cardiovascular disease in Africa.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/41738065