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CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL OF AFRICA • Volume 28, No 4, July/August 2017
AFRICA
235
Pilot study of risk factors associated with cardiovascular
disease in northern and southern Cameroonians
Jeanne Durendale Chiadak, Jason Perret, Hilaire Macaire Womeni, Jules Roger Kuiaté, Pierre Cullus,
Christelle Senterre, Christine Delporte
Abstract
Aim:
The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the risk
factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) are similar in the
northern and southern regions of Cameroon.
Methods:
The participants answered a questionnaire concern-
ing their lifestyle. Anthropometric and blood pressure meas-
urements were evaluated in 192 individuals and biochemical
parameters in 50 randomly selected volunteers.
Results:
Northerners displayed low alcohol and tobacco
consumption, little practice of sport but physically demand-
ing professions, and consumption of soybean, refined palm
and other polyunsaturated oils. Southerners consumed alco-
hol, practiced sport, had intellectually based professions, and
consumed crude and refined palm oils. Waist circumference
and body mass index were higher in the southerners compared
to the northerners. Blood glucose levels, and systolic and dias-
tolic blood pressures were higher among the northerners than
the southerners. Among the southerners, there were positive
correlations between total cholesterol levels and systolic or
diastolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
and blood glucose levels or diastolic blood pressure, triglycer-
ide levels and systolic blood pressure.
Conclusion:
Providing region-adapted, health-related advice
for northern and southern Cameroonians would contribute
to reducing risk factors for CVD.
Keywords:
cardiovascular diseases, risk factor, lifestyle, nutrition,
diet, fatty acids
Submitted 24/6/16, accepted 30/10/16
Published online 17/5/17
Cardiovasc J Afr
2017;
28
: 235–241
www.cvja.co.zaDOI: 10.5830/CVJA-2016-094
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of
death worldwide, accounting for around 17 million deaths per
year.
1
In sub-Saharan Africa, CVD is responsible for 20% of
all global deaths,
2
where in the past, CVD was considered a
rare ailment among black African populations. However, the
incidence of CVD has recently been rising with the increasing
shift to Western lifestyle and habits, notably with an increased
sodium and calorie intake. These changes account for the rising
prevalence of obesity, the metabolic syndrome and diabetes.
Between 1990 and 2020, the increase in mortality rates from
CVD is estimated to be 140% in men and 118% in women
in sub-Saharan Africa, compared to 53% in men and 31% in
women in developed countries.
1,3
Monitoringof CVDisbasedontheevaluationof non-modifiable
risk factors (age, gender, race, family history), behavioural risk
factors (physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption,
smoking, diet high in saturated fat, salt and cholesterol), and
modifiable risk factors (obesity, diabetes, hypertension, low- and
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels).
4
In developing countries, relationships between malnutrition
and CVD have been poorly explored.
5-7
Cameroon is considered a
miniature Africa due to its diverse climate (ranging from southern
tropical forests to northern savannah and western mountains)
and its ethnic diversity (366 ethnic groups and 240 languages).
The various ethnic groups distributed across 10 regions,
including rural and urban zones, are characterised by distinct
eating habits. The second Cameroonian household survey
assessed the average energy intake per capita to be 3 241, 2
721 and 2 887 kcal/day for far north, far south and the whole
country, respectively.
8
Contribution to energy requirements
results from three main nutrient uptakes; protein, fat and
carbohydrates. The percentage energy from protein per unit of
consumption was 11.9% in the far north, 9.4% in the far south
and 10.5% overall for Cameroon. The percentage energy from
fat per unit of consumption was 19.8% in the far north, 28.8%
in the far south and 27.1% overall for Cameroon. Finally, the
percentage energy from carbohydrate per unit of consumption
was 68.3% in the far north, 61.7% in the far south and 62.4%
overall for Cameroon.
8
The percentage recommended for these
three nutrients are 50 to 55% for carbohydrates, 12 to 15% for
proteins and 30 to 38% for fat.
In Cameroon, crude palm oil represents 10.6%, cottonseed
oil 2.1%, refined palm oil 0.9% and peanut oil 0.4% of the total
energy intake.
8
Changes in the amount and/or type of fatty acids
Laboratory of Pathophysiological and Nutritional
Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de
Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
Jeanne Durendale Chiadak, PhD
Jason Perret, PhD
Christine Delporte, PhD,
cdelport@ulb.ac.beDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences,
University of Dschang, Cameroon
Jeanne Durendale Chiadak, PhD
Hilaire Macaire Womeni, PhD
Jules Roger Kuiaté, PhD
Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Service, Faculty of
Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Pierre Cullus
Research Centre of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and
Clinical Research, School of Public Health, Université Libre
de Bruxelles, Belgium
Christelle Senterre, PhD