Nutritional Status and Prevalence of Other Non-Communicable Diseases Among Hypertensive Patients in Malawi

Researche Article

Abstract

Malawi is experiencing increasing prevalence of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Lifestyle and diets are significantly and rapidly changing, where people are consuming diets higher in fats, carbohydrates, sugars and salt, and have reduced their physical activity. Hypertensive patients were recruited to be evenly distributed between two categories: patients who had been attending hypertensive clinics for <24 months and those who had been attending the clinics for >24 months. Data were collected using a structured hypertension questionnaire, a 24-hour dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire. About one quarter of hypertensive patients had mild hypertension, with more of these patients being in the >24 months category. More than half of hypertensive patients were overweight and obese, with a higher proportion being in the >24 months category. A third of hypertensive patients had hypertension co-existing with another NCD, and the most common NCD was diabetes (as reported by 83.8% of the hypertensive patients). Additional research is needed to find interventions for this population to have better access to healthy diets and lifestyle.