Pilot study of risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease in northern and southern Cameroonians.

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 concerning their lifestyle. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements 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 demanding professions, and consumption of soybean, refined palm and other polyunsaturated oils. Southerners consumed alcohol, 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 diastolic 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, triglyceride 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.