Hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and its correlates among people 35 years and older: Result from pilot phase of the Azar cohort study

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:There is remarkable alteration in hypertension prevalence and awareness, and their correlates among various geographic locations and ethnic groups. The aim of this study was to report hypertension prevalence, awareness, and its correlates as well as hypertension treatment, and control among Azari people aged 35 years and older.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The pilot phase of the Azar Cohort Study; a state level of a nationwide PERSIAN cohort study was conducted in Khameneh city between October 2014 and January 2015. All people 35 years of age and above were invited to take part in this study. A comprehensive range of different biomarkers, lifestyle, socioeconomic factors, and health-related factors was collected. Blood pressure was measured by a trained nurse/midwife. Descriptive statistical methods were used to present general characteristics of the study population as frequency tables. Separate multiple logistic regression models were built to assess the predictors of hypertension prevalence.RESULTS:A total of 1038 people were included in this study. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 22.9%. Awareness of hypertension was 60.5% and in those with known hypertension, 84% were using the antihypertensive medications, of those 68.5% had controlled hypertension. After adjustment; age (odds ratios [OR]adj= 1.12 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09–1.15), gender (ORadj= 1.65 95% CI: 1.08–2.51), obesity ORadj= 2.51 (1.40–4.88), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (ORadj= 1.70 (1.05–2.75), and comorbidities (ORadj= 2.51 (1.72–3.66) were independent predictors of hypertension.CONCLUSION:Age, sex, body mass index, WHR, and comorbidities were known as predictors of hypertension in this study, health promotion strategies including lifestyle modification to reduce overweight/obesity and secondary prevention programs for early detection of hypertension in high-risk groups according to age, gender, and disease profile are recommended.

Awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension and related factors in adult Iranian Population

“…[24] In different countries this awareness has been reported from 25 to 75%. [25] Awareness in Yazd is lower compared to most studies in Iran (69.2% in Isfahan , [9] 60.5% in Tabriz, [12] and 57% in Kerman [26] . It is slightly higher than Golestan's (46.2%) and a previous study in Yazd (43.7%).…”

“…Despite treatment, only 39% had controlled hypertension, which is close to the worldwide statistics (37.1%), although it was better in high-income countries (50.4%) in 2010. [24] Although the difference between treated and controlled hypertension was reported in all studies, Isfahan (59.1%) and Tabriz (68.5%) in Iran reported a better-controlled situation [9,12] suggesting worse control of hypertension in Yazd. A comparison of blood pressure control status in Yazd in this study with the previous study shows threefold growth.…”

“…The results indicate that Yazd is among the areas with high blood pressure prevalence compared to similar studies in Iran and the world. [12] The prevalence of hypertension in the world has also been reported 28.8% in high and 31.5% in low-income countries [24] , indicating a worsening situation in Yazd. This might be justified by the different prevalence of risk factors due to ethnicity and lifestyle changes, or different age groups in the study.…”

“…It is slightly higher than Golestan's (46.2%) and a previous study in Yazd (43.7%). [12,16] Over the past decade, the 5% awareness increase in Yazd was not satisfactory, considering increased access to health centers and increase in the number of health insured.…”

“…Although the treated hypertension in Yazd is higher than the world average (36.9%), [24] it is more inadequate than other studies in Iran. [9,12] The availability and affordability (low cost) of health care services have made this index more favorable in Iran than in the world -even in high-income countries (55.6%). [16,24] Un-prescribed drug use and differences in the definition of treated people may be other reasons for this difference.…”