Skip to main content

The Burden of Hypertension and Diabetes in an Emergency Department in Northern Tanzania.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hertz, JT; Sakita, FM; Manavalan, P; Madut, DB; Thielman, NM; Mmbaga, BT; Staton, CA; Galson, SW
Published in: Ethn Dis
2019

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the burden of hypertension and diabetes on emergency department (ED) utilization and hospitalizations in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: A retrospective review of adult ED patients in northern Tanzania was performed from September 2017 through March 2018. Hypertension was defined as documented diagnosis of hypertension or blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mm Hg. Diabetes was defined as documented diagnosis of diabetes mellitus or random glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL. RESULTS: Of 3961 adult ED patients, 1359 (34.3%) had hypertension, 518 (13.1%) had diabetes, and 273 (6.9%) had both. Both hypertension (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.23-1.63, P<.001) and diabetes (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.66-2.54, P<.001) were associated with increased odds of admission. Of 2418 hospital admissions, 694 (28.7%) were for complications of hypertension or diabetes. Of 499 patients admitted for hypertensive complications, the most common admission diagnoses were: heart failure (163 patients, 32.7%); stroke (147 patients, 29.5%); and severe hypertension (139 patients, 27.9%). Of 278 patients admitted for diabetic complications, the most common admission diagnoses were: hyperglycemia (158 patients, 56.9%); infection (60 patients, 21.6%); and stroke (28 patients, 10.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The burden of hypertension and diabetes in a Tanzanian ED is high, and the ED may serve as an opportune location for case identification and linkage-to-care interventions. Given the large proportion of Africans with undiagnosed hypertension and diabetes, an ED-based screening program would likely identify many new cases of these diseases. The high burden of hypertension- and diabetes-related hospitalizations highlights the urgent need for improvements in primary preventative care in Tanzania.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Ethn Dis

DOI

EISSN

1945-0826

Publication Date

2019

Volume

29

Issue

4

Start / End Page

559 / 566

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tanzania
  • Stroke
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Public Health
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Infections
  • Hypertension
  • Hyperglycemia
  • Humans
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Hertz, J. T., Sakita, F. M., Manavalan, P., Madut, D. B., Thielman, N. M., Mmbaga, B. T., … Galson, S. W. (2019). The Burden of Hypertension and Diabetes in an Emergency Department in Northern Tanzania. Ethn Dis, 29(4), 559–566. https://doi.org/10.18865/ed.29.4.559
Hertz, Julian T., Francis M. Sakita, Preeti Manavalan, Deng B. Madut, Nathan M. Thielman, Blandina T. Mmbaga, Catherine A. Staton, and Sophie W. Galson. “The Burden of Hypertension and Diabetes in an Emergency Department in Northern Tanzania.Ethn Dis 29, no. 4 (2019): 559–66. https://doi.org/10.18865/ed.29.4.559.
Hertz JT, Sakita FM, Manavalan P, Madut DB, Thielman NM, Mmbaga BT, et al. The Burden of Hypertension and Diabetes in an Emergency Department in Northern Tanzania. Ethn Dis. 2019;29(4):559–66.
Hertz, Julian T., et al. “The Burden of Hypertension and Diabetes in an Emergency Department in Northern Tanzania.Ethn Dis, vol. 29, no. 4, 2019, pp. 559–66. Pubmed, doi:10.18865/ed.29.4.559.
Hertz JT, Sakita FM, Manavalan P, Madut DB, Thielman NM, Mmbaga BT, Staton CA, Galson SW. The Burden of Hypertension and Diabetes in an Emergency Department in Northern Tanzania. Ethn Dis. 2019;29(4):559–566.

Published In

Ethn Dis

DOI

EISSN

1945-0826

Publication Date

2019

Volume

29

Issue

4

Start / End Page

559 / 566

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tanzania
  • Stroke
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Public Health
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Infections
  • Hypertension
  • Hyperglycemia
  • Humans