With the epidemiological transition phenomenon, more countries are expected to move from a disease pattern dominated by infectious diseases to one characterized by non-communicable diseases. Many developing countries are contending with infectious diseases as well as non-communicable diseases, yet little is known about the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in poor urban communities in developing countries.


The object of this community based study was to determine the prevalence of selected cardiovascular risk factors in an urban inner city community which had been followed up prospectively from 1993 to 1998.


Results show that the prevalence of hypertension (Blood Pressure BP > 160/95 mm Hg) was 12.4 percent with an age adjustment rate of 7.4 percent. This is higher than what is found in the rural part of the country but much lower than what is generally observed in industrialized countries of the world.


Though there was no significant difference in the proportion with hypertension by gender (p>0.05), the mean systolic BP was significantly higher for men (123.9 ± 23.9 mm Hg) than for women (120.6±26.8 mm Hg) t + 2.93, p30), and generally, more women than men were obese. However, at ages 15-19 significantly more males than females were obese (X2 + 7.3, p 40 years and obesity, were significantly associated with the presence of hypertension in this community (p 160/95mm Hg) était 12,4% avec âge moyen proportion de 7,4%. Ceci avait la fréquence élevée par rapport à ce qui se passe dans la zone rurale du pays mais encoure plus en baisse par rapport à se qui est en cours dans les ays développés du monde.


Quiqué il n'y ait pas de difference dans la proporton d'hypertension par sexe (P>0,05), le moyen systolic, BP était manifestement élevé chez les homme (123,9±23,9mm Hg) plus que chez les femmes (120,6±26,8mm Hg) t=2,93, P