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Changes in blood pressure and lipids associated with rural to urban migration in Tanzania

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 20, pages 704–706 (2006)Cite this article

High levels of rural to urban migration are a feature of most developing countries, and are thought to be associated with an increase in non-communicable disease risk factors. We studied rural to urban migrants in Tanzania and found a mixed pattern of change over 6 months, with an increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and weight, a fall in triglycerides and an apparent fall in blood pressure.

Urbanization is increasing rapidly in developing countries around the world, fuelled by high levels of rural to urban migration. Urban compared to rural living tends to be strongly associated with a higher prevalence of certain chronic, non-communicable conditions, including hypertension, glucose intolerance, obesity and dyslipidaemia.1 Such rural to urban differences have been documented in many parts of the world, including countries in sub-Saharan Africa, such as Tanzania.2 Previously, the Luo migration study in Kenya had demonstrated a rapid, within weeks, increase in blood pressure on migration from a rural area to Nairobi.3 We established the Urbanization and Metabolic Outcomes Study in Tanzania (UMOST) with the aim of investigating whether blood pressure, glucose and lipid changes occur in migrants, and if so what the determinants of those changes are, including the role of gene–environment interactions. Here, we describe results from the first phase of the study, which was designed to establish the system for identifying and tracking migrants and estimate the size and variance of any changes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Population and Health Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    N Unwin

  2. School of Clinical Medical Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    D McLarty, T Aspray, L Carlin, S Patel, M Walker & K G M M Alberti

  3. Ministry of Health, Morogoro, Tanzania

    H Machibya

  4. Muhimbili Medical Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    B Tamin

Authors
  1. N Unwin
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  2. D McLarty
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  3. H Machibya
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  4. T Aspray
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  5. B Tamin
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  6. L Carlin
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  7. S Patel
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  8. M Walker
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  9. K G M M Alberti
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Correspondence to N Unwin.

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Unwin, N., McLarty, D., Machibya, H. et al. Changes in blood pressure and lipids associated with rural to urban migration in Tanzania. J Hum Hypertens 20, 704–706 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002056

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