Individual awareness and treatment effectiveness of hypertension among older adults in Ghana: evidence from the World Health Organization study of global ageing and adult health wave 2

Abstract

Introduction the aim of this study was to report the prevalence of hypertension, its awareness and treatment effectiveness among older adults (aged 50 years and above) in Ghana. Methods the Ghana World Health Organization´s (WHO) Study on Global Aging and Adult Health (SAGE) wave 2 dataset was used in this study. The study adopted a cross-sectional study design. Information on self-reported hypertension as well as measured hypertension was analyzed. The level of awareness regarding hypertension and the effectiveness of treatment was determined using descriptive statistics. Factors associated with an individual´s awareness of their hypertensive status were determined using Rao-Scott Chi square test statistic and the predictors of unawareness of hypertension were determined using adjusted logistic regression analysis. A p-value of ≤0.05 was deemed significant. Results information on 3,575 adults in Ghana aged 50 years or older was included in this analysis. The mean age of study participants was 65.1 ± 10.7 years with 59% being female. The prevalence of measured hypertension was 50.7% [95%CI=48.3-53.2]. The overall prevalence of hypertension among older adults in Ghana who were hypertensive but were not aware of it was 35.0% [95%CI=31.6-38.5]. Of the 332 individuals who self-reported being hypertensive, only 74 (22.2%) were on any form of treatment, with only 17 (5.1%) having their blood pressures well controlled. Conclusion approximately half of all older adults in Ghana have elevated blood pressures. Most of these are not aware of their elevated blood pressure and for those who are aware, very few are on treatment and even fewer have their blood pressure well controlled. Structured national population level screening and health promotion for elevated blood pressure by Ministry of Health/ Ghana Health Service is worthy of consideration.

Prevalence, Awareness and Risk Factors of Hypertension among Public Sector Workers Aged 40 Years and above in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana

“…Our study revealed that approximately one in every two older adults surveyed are hypertensive, reporting an age-standardized prevalence of 46.00% (CI: 41.20 -49.30). This finding is consistent with findings of a recent cross-sectional study by Calys-Tagoe and colleagues who, using data from Global Study on Aging and Adult Health (SAGE) wave 2, reported a prevalence of 50.7% (CI: 48.30 -53.20) among adults aged 50 years and above in Ghana (20). The relatively lower prevalence reported in this study compared to the latter study could be due to the lower ages of 40 -49 years included in our study.…”

Is gender a factor in socioeconomic disparities in undiagnosed, and untreated hypertension in Bangladesh?

“…This data indicates that the country has a poor diagnosis rate for HTN and a low treatment‐seeking behavior. Furthermore, our study's rate of undiagnosed and untreated HTN was comparable to other earlier studies carried out in areas with limited resources, including Ghana (65%, 22.2%), 31 India (42.3%, 6%), 32 Pakistan (58.1%, 25.2%), 33 and Nepal (57.3%, 24.1%) 34 . These results demonstrate that more treatment and screening coverage is needed even though considerable progress has been made.…”