Recent studies have found an increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. A compressive search of PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, and the World Health Organization Global Health Library databases was undertaken to identify studies reporting on the prevalence, risk factors, and interventions for hypertension and diabetes in Malawi. The findings from 23 included studies revealed a high burden of hypertension and diabetes in Malawi, with estimates ranging from 15.8% to 32.9% and from 2.4% to 5.6%, respectively. Associated risk factors included old age, tobacco smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, high salt and sugar intake, low fruit and vegetable intake, high body mass index, and high waist-to-hip ratio. Certain antiretroviral therapy regimens were also associated with increased diabetes and hypertension risk in human immunodeficiency virus patient populations. Nationwide, the quality of clinical care was generally limited and demonstrated a need for innovative and targeted interventions to prevent, control, and treat noncommunicable diseases in Malawi. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)-including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic lung diseases-account for >80% of all premature NCD deaths [1]. This burden is likely to become larger over the next decade as urbanization and lifestyle changes progress and the mean age of the population increases [2]. In sub-Saharan Africa, NCDs are projected to account for almost 50% of all deaths by 2030 [3], presenting a major barrier to development [2]. NCDs and their risk factors are becoming major public health problems in Africa [4]. Recent data in Malawi show a high burden of hypertension, diabetes, and their risk factors (including tobacco, alcohol, and physical inactivity, all of which are increasing in prevalence) in both urban and rural areas [5,6]. Increasingly, hypertension and diabetes has been affecting individuals of younger ages and of relatively low or normal body mass index [5]. Complications of hypertension and diabetes, such as heart failure, stroke, myocardial infarction, hyperglycemia, and renal failure, are common reasons for admissions to medical departments in Malawi [7].
