Hypertension-the Major Cause of Morbidity, Hospitalisation and Mortality among Non-communicable Diseases in the Gambia.

Aim: This study aimed at investigating the major cause of morbidity, hospitalisation and mortality among Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) in The Gambia, in an effort to raise awareness on the alarming trend and thus stimulating appropriate responses from stakeholders. Method: Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse a nation-wide routine hospital-based data on NCDs in The Gambia. Data were also presented in tables showing the trend of morbidity (in and out-patient case), hospitalisation and mortality between 2008 and 2011. Result: Hypertension as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases constitutes more than half (55%) of all hospital admissions due to NCDs while cardiovascular diseases as a whole constitute well over 60% of all hospital admissions from NCDs. Of all NCDs studied, morbidity due to hypertension constitutes 80%, nearly responsible for all morbidities due to cardiovascular diseases for the years considered. Seventy percent (70%) of all deaths due to NCDs were caused by cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension was an important factor for NCDs related mortality (47.9% in 2008 to 55.8% in 2011;p-value=0.13). There were increments in morbidity and mortality due to hypertension and cardiovascular diseases between 2008 and 2011. However, there was reduction in hospitalisation due to cardiovascular diseases, but not the case with hypertension (incremental change). The differences in morbidity and hospitalisation were statistically significant for cardiovascular diseases (p<0.0001 and p=0.034 respectively) while only increment in morbidity due to hypertension was statistically significant (p<0.0001). Conclusion: This study shows that hypertension as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease is the greatest cause of morbidity, hospitalisation and mortality among NCDs in The Gambia. Hence, a holistic approach tailored towards preventing the acquisition/onset of the modifiable risk factors (of hypertension and CVD) should be instituted as well as programmes capable of preventing target organ damage among the population already affected.