VOLUME 10 NUMBER 2 • JUNE 2013
79
SA JOURNAL OF DIABETES & VASCULAR DISEASE
CONFERENCE REPORT
employment status, exercise, time of going to bed and daytime nap-
ping. Backward, stepwise multiple regression analyses demonstrated
that of these variables the principal determinants of BMI (log) were:
age (beta=0.003,
p
<0.0001), female gender (beta=0.07,
p
<0.0001),
smoking (beta=-0.03,
p
<0.0001) and napping during the day (beta=-
0.015,
p
=0.04). An ANCOVA adjusted for gender and age demon-
strated that subjects who currently smoked had a lower BMI (median
[interquartile range (IQR)]: 22.6 [5.6]) than both non- (27.6 [10.5];
p
<0.0001) and ex-smokers (25.1 [12.7];
p
<0.0005).
Interpretation:
Our data further confirm the higher prevalence
of obesity in females than males. The negative effect of smoking
on BMI has been reported in other studies, and suggests that after
smoking cessation precautions should be taken to reduce weight
gain. The lower BMI in subjects who nap during the day is a novel
finding and requires further investigation.
PREVALENCE OF HYPERGLYCAEMIA, OBESITY AND MET-
ABOLIC SYNDROME AMONG HOSPITAL PERSONNEL IN
THE LITTORAL REGION OF CAMEROON: A PILOT STUDY
Ndjebet J*, Kunbuma Tachang G, Choukem S-P, Vincent PK
Titanji Department of Internal Medicine, Douala General Hospital,
Cameroon; Cardiovascular Center of Bonapriso, Cameroon
Introduction:
There is evidence worldwide of the high prevalence
of obesity, hyperglycaemia and metabolic syndrome in healthcare
providers, although very scanty data are available on this in sub-
Saharan Africa.
Subjects and methods:
The present study aims to determine the
frequency of diabetes, elevated body mass index (BMI) and meta-
bolic syndrome among healthcare workers in some hospitals and
clinics in Douala, Cameroon. An observational and cross-sectional
study was done for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. The 2005
definition of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) was used
for 147 health workers. Data were merged and exported from Epi-
Info to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS); workers
were analysed according to gender and age.
Results:
7.5% of the hospital workers had metabolic syndrome,
71.2% were at high risk of developing metabolic syndrome
because of elevated abdominal obesity, 38.4% were obese (BMI
≥30) and 4.8% had elevated blood sugar levels. The prevalence
rate increased with age: 2.9% (18–36 years), 9.5% (37–55 years)
and 50% for more than 56 years. The definition gave the highest
prevalence rate of 7.5% while the National Cholesterol Education
Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) gave 0.7%.
Interpretation:
There is a high prevalence of obesity and meta-
bolic syndrome among healthcare personnel in the Littoral region
in Cameroon. It is imperative to implement programmes to screen
these risk factors by means of routine medical exams and improv-
ing the lifestyle of Cameroonian healthcare workers. These study
findings could be the basis for future research among hospital staff
and the general population.
PREVENTION, EDUCATION AND CARING FOR THE CARERS
HEALTH AFRICA.INFO: A WAY TO PROMOTE THE PRE-
VENTION OF NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN AFRICA
Burgarella F*, Burgarella S
Heart Friends Around The World, Strada della Boffalora n. 1, 24060
Bianzano (BG), Italy
Introduction:
Heart Friends Around The World (HFATW) is a world-
wide organisation collaborating with the World Health Organi-
zation, aiming to promote the prevention and rehabilitation of
cardiovascular diseases by involving physicians and patients world-
wide, predominantly coming from low- and middle-income coun-
tries. To promote the prevention of non-communicable diseases
(NCDs) in Africa, HFATW has developed a website called HealthAf-
rica, offering educational material and networking opportunities.
Subjects and methods:
NCDs are the leading global causes of
death, but nearly 80% of NCD deaths occur in low- and middle-
income countries. Even in African nations, NCDs are rising rapidly
and are projected to exceed communicable and nutritional diseases
by 2020. HealthAfrica.Info explains how NCDs are preventable
through the reduction of their main behavioural risk factors: tobacco
use, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy diet,
overweight and obesity, raised cholesterol and blood pressure. The
rapidly growing burden of NCDs is accelerated by the negative
effects of globalisations, rapid unplanned urbanisation and increas-
ingly sedentary lives.
Results:
On HealthAfrica.Info, a collection of free educational
materials is available to download: ‘The School of Cardiology’ is a
course on cardiology for African cardiologists; ‘Pinocchio and the
sore throat’ is an educational tale for children, to fight rheumatic
fever in Africa. The ‘Healthy Farms’ project presented by HealthAf-
rica.Info involves farms wishing to take an active part in safeguard-
ing health by promoting control of diabetes and obesity, by offering
fruit and vegetables, low-cholesterol meat and fish, by organising
programmes for physical exercise, by forbidding smoking. An
updated networking section of HealthAfrica.Info is dedicated to
the information regarding meetings, studies and initiatives taken in
African countries with the objective to promote the dissemination
of education on NCDs prevention.
Interpretation:
Health Africa.Info aims to make new African initia-
tives against NCDs known, transforming information into educa-
tion.
CONSORTIUM FOR NCD PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA (CNCD-AFRICA): CONCEPT, EXPE-
RIENCE AND LESSONS
Owuor JO*, Amuyunzu-Nyamongo M
CNCD-Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
Introduction:
CNCD-Africa was established in July 2009 as a result
of recognition that the prevalence and burden of non-communica-
ble disease (NCD)-related illness and injury was increasing among
low- and middle-income countries. The collective mandates of the
Secretariat, Steering Committee and Expert Group were aimed at
addressing the objectives of the Consortium comprehensively while
building capacity in the region to prevent and control NCDs.
Subjects and methods:
With financial and technical support
from the CDC and IUHPE respectively, the Consortium has utilised
health promotion, lobbying and dialogue,and partner platforms to
achieve its mission.
Results:
The Consortium has excelled in four key areas mainly:
convening; knowledge generation and sharing; advocacy; and net-
