Investigation of socio-demographic, clinical and genetic factors associated with blood pressure and glycaemic control among indigenous South African adult patients

Abstract

Achieving blood pressure and glycaemic treatment targets remain a major public health challenge in individuals with hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM). This research project was, therefore, designed to investigate the socio-demographic, clinical and genetic factors associated with blood pressure and glycaemic control among indigenous South African adult patients. The main aims of the project were as follows: (1) To assess the prevalence and socio-demographic factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension, in individuals receiving chronic care in primary healthcare facilities, based in the rural areas of Mkhondo Municipality (Study 1). (2) To investigate the association of nineteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with blood pressure control among adult patients treated with hydrochlorothiazide (Study 2). (3) To assess the level of association between twelve SNPs with uncontrolled blood pressure for adult patients treated with amlodipine (Study 3). (4) To examine the association of five SNPs in selected genes (ABO, VEGFA, BDKRB2, NOS3 and ADRB2) with blood pressure response to enalapril treatment, and further assess interaction patterns that influence blood pressure response (Study 4). (5) To determine the prevalence of poor glycaemic control and its influencing factors among adult patients from Mkhondo Municipality attending chronic care for DM (Study 5). (6) To evaluate the level of association between polymorphisms found in the SLC22A1, SP1, PRPF31, NBEA, SCNN1B, CPA6 and CAPN10 genes, and glycaemic response to metformin and Sulphonylureas (SU) combination therapy among South African adults with DM. Also, to investigate interaction patterns that influence glycaemic control in response to metformin and SU combination therapy (Study 6).