Epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases in Africa with special reference to Kenya: an overview
Lore, W.
East African Medical Journal 70(6): 357-361
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 8261957 Document Number: 419298
At the beginning of this century, high blood pressure was virtually non-existent among the indigenous Kenyans. Normotension continued until the second world war following which Kenyan Africans began to exhibit a progressive increase in blood pressure which was age-related. Similar changes were observed in Uganda at the same time. From about 25 years old, high blood pressure became established in Kenya and the neighbouring countries, in particular Uganda. These trends were also observed in West Africa, notably Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and also in Cameroon and Zaire in the Central African region. Consumption of salt and alcohol, psychological stress, obesity, physical inactivity and other dietary factors are thought to play an important aetiologic role in the genesis of primary hypertension in susceptible persons. Low blood pressure still exists where blood pressure does not seem to increase with age.