May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Cameroon.

The multi-country May Measurement Month (MMM) screening campaign aims to raise awareness on blood pressure (BP) and hypertension in individuals and communities, and measure BP, ideally, of those who had no BP measurement in the preceding year. We here report key findings from the Cameroon arm of MMM 2019. An opportunistic sample of adults (≥18 years) was included from 5 May to 5 June 2019 across 15 sites (markets, churches, homes, motor parks, workplaces, and hospitals/clinics). Data collection, cleaning, the definition of hypertension, and statistical analysis followed the standard protocol. The mean age of the 30 187 participants screened was 36.9 (SD: 14.9) years, 50.4% were female (5% of whom were pregnant), and 94.4% were screened out of the hospital/clinic settings. After multiple imputation of missing data, 6286 (20.8%) had hypertension, 24.0% were taking antihypertensive medication, and 705 (11.2%) of all participants with hypertension had controlled BP. In linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, and antihypertensive medicines use, a previous diagnosis of hypertension, a history of stroke, and use of antihypertensive medicines were significant predictors of systolic and diastolic BP levels. BPs were also significantly higher when measured in public outdoors, public indoors (diastolic BP only), workplaces, and other unspecified areas compared to hospitals/clinic settings. MMM19 is the largest ever BP screening campaign in a single month, in Cameroon and despite the limitations resulting from non-random sample selection, the opportunistic screening allows access to awareness and screening for hypertension out of the hospital/clinic settings.

May Measurement Month 2018: blood pressure screening results in Cameroon.

Hypertension is a global public health challenge, but awareness, treatment, and control rates remain low. May Measurement Month (MMM) creates a platform for awareness creation and opportunistic screening which can identify significant numbers with raised blood pressure (BP). We present results of the 2018 edition of MMM in Cameroon. A cross-sectional survey of self-selected volunteers aged ≥18 years was conducted in May 2018. The definition of hypertension and statistical analyses followed the standard protocol. Data were collected from 28 public (indoors and outdoors) and private locations which were assigned unique site identification numbers, over a 30-day period. Of the 8883 participants screened, 53.8% were male and the median age was 35 (interquartile range 21) years, and 30.0% reported not having a previous BP measurement. After imputation, 1867 (21.0%) were hypertensive, 645 (34.5%) were aware of their diagnosis, and 507 (27.2%) were on antihypertensive medication, among whom 242 (47.8%) had controlled BP. In linear regression models adjusting for age, sex, and the use of antihypertensive medication, systolic and diastolic BP were significantly higher in participants aware of their diagnosis, those on antihypertensive medication, and who reported alcohol intake of 1-3 times per month and, one or more times per week. Hypertension prevalence is the lowest, and awareness, treatments, and control rates the highest reported in epidemiological studies in Cameroon in the last two decades. Further surveys will be useful in evaluating the impact, if any, of the MMM campaign on the burden of hypertension in the Cameroon.

MMM17-Cameroon, analysis and opportunities-Sub-Saharan Africa.

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a growing burden worldwide, leading to over 10 million deaths each year. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness on high BP and temporary increasing screening for hypertension worldwide. We here provide the results of the 2017 MMM (MMM17) edition in Cameroon. An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volunteers aged ≥18 was carried out in May 2017 nationwide. BP measurement, the definition of hypertension and statistical analysis followed the standard MMM protocol. The campaign was advertised through various media and screening stations were set-up in local markets, churches, and outpatient departments of health facilities. In all, 16 093 individuals were screened during MMM17, of whom 4595 (29.2%) had hypertension. A total of 2742 (19.8%) of individuals not receiving anti-hypertensive medication were found to be hypertensive. Of those on medication, 1048 (57.2%) had uncontrolled BP. After adjusting for age, sex, and use of BP lowing medications, systolic and diastolic BPs were significantly higher in people on anti-hypertensive treatment, with higher waist circumference. MMM17 was the largest BP screening campaign undertaken in Cameroon, and although treatment and control rates are higher than previously reported, they are still well below optimum levels. MMM has highlighted the need for routine population-based surveys and suggests that opportunistic screening can identify significant numbers with raised BP.

Ten Recommendations for Accelerating Hypertension and Diabetes Control to Reduce Stroke, Heart, and Renal Disease with the Aim to Save Lives in Cameroon Through Partnerships and Collaborations.

Hypertension and diabetes are currently the most common, treatable, and controllable cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors for stroke, heart, and renal diseases in Cameroon. Hypertension affects 30% of adults aged ≥ 20 years with 90% as uncontrolled cases, while type 2 diabetes affects 6% of the same population, with 70% remaining underdiagnosed. Despite publication of the first Roadmap on raised blood pressure by the World Heart Federation in 2015, the Pan African Society of Cardiology Roadmap in 2017, and the technical package for cardiovascular disease management in primary health care (WHO-HEARTS) in 2020, very little progress has been made in improving the diagnosis, treatment, and control of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases in Cameroon. The Cameroon Cardiac Society and a dozen Cameroon non-communicable diseases societies, national organizations from the community and the civil society, along with researchers and members of academia and the health sector, came together under the patronage of representatives of the government to propose new strategies to improve hypertension and diabetes control and save lives in Cameroon. Two simple and practical algorithms for the management of hypertension and diabetes were developed. The ten recommendations tailored to be efficiently implemented in our country were summarized under the acronym 'A SMART VIEW' (Awareness, Screening, Manufacture, Activity, Research, Task-shifting, HIV/AIDS, Insurance, Education, and WHO-HEARTS). It is our hope that all stakeholders will further collaborate to remove barriers and enhance facilitators to deploy the proposed actions and reduce the burden of uncontrolled hypertension and untreated diabetes in Cameroon.

Hypertension and diabetes are very common, yet treatable, cardiovascular, and metabolic risk factors for stroke, heart, and renal diseases in Cameroon. One-third of all adults aged 20 years or more in Cameroon have hypertension, in most of whom it remains uncontrolled. In addition, while 6% of these adults have type 2 diabetes, more than two-thirds remain underdiagnosed. Despite efforts to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and control of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases in Cameroon, minimal progress has been made. The Cameroon Cardiac Society, supported by input from Cameroon non-communicable diseases societies, national institutions/organizations, and representatives from the community, research, academia, and the health sector, has now developed two practical algorithms and ten recommendations specific to the Cameroonian population in an attempt to improve the control of hypertension and diabetes in Cameroon. It is hoped that these stakeholders will further collaborate to ensure the efficient implementation of these recommendations across the country, with the ongoing aim of monitoring their effectiveness over the next five years.

Availability, cost and affordability of essential cardiovascular disease medicines in the south west region of Cameroon: Preliminary findings from the Cameroon science for disease study.

BACKGROUND: More than 80% of premature deaths due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) occur in low- and middle-income countries. However, access to, and affordability of medications remain a challenge in these countries. OBJECTIVE: To assess the availability, cost and affordability of essential cardiovascular medicines in the South West region of Cameroon. METHODS: In an audit of 63 medicine outlets, twenty-six essential medicines were surveyed using the World Health Organisation (WHO) /Health Action International methodology. Availability, costs and the ratio of the median price to the international reference price were evaluated in public, confessional, private facility medicine outlets, and community pharmacies. Affordability was assessed by calculating the number of days' wages it will cost the lowest-paid unskilled government worker to purchase a month worth of chronic treatment. FINDINGS: Availability ranged from 25.3% (public facility outlets) to 49.2% (community pharmacies) for all medicines. This was higher in urban and semi-urban compared to rural outlets. Cost of medicines was highest in community pharmacies and lowest in public facility outlets. Aspirin, digoxin, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide and nifedipine were affordable (cost a day's wage or less). Medicines for heart failure and dyslipidaemia (beta blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and statins) required 2-5 days and 6-13 days wages respectively for one month of chronic treatment. CONCLUSION: Overall availability of CVD essential medicines was lower than WHO recommendations, and medicines were largely unaffordable. While primary prevention is pivotal, improving availability and affordability of medicines especially for public facilities would provide additional benefit in curbing the CVD burden.

A report on the research leadership and scientific writing training organized in Yaounde by the Clinical Research Education, Networking and Consultancy (CRENC) and the IeDEA-Cameroon team.

Sub-Saharan Africa has the largest number of individuals leaving with HIV/AIDS. However, much is still unknown as regards HIV/AIDS treatment outcomes in resource-constrained settings. The Cameroon Central Africa International Epidemiologic Databases to Evaluate AIDS-Cameroon (Cameroon CA-IeDEA) collaboration is a unique opportunity to explore long-term outcomes from a large HIV cohort and generate massive data that can show trends, inform HIV care and provide insight on the way forward. Given the lack of research capacity in the country, the need for high impact training that can leverage Cameroon CA-IeDEA has never been more acute.