Is Systemic Hypertension a Problem in Ghana?

Jo, Pobee; Eb, Larbi; Dodu,; Písa, Z; Strasser, Thomas

doi:10.1177/004947557900900216

Cited by 11 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…In 14 studies involving both sexes, ten enrolled more females than males and up to 77% of study subjects were females (Table 1). As expected, males were generally predominant in study populations such as civil servants, factory workers and prison officers [23,25,31]. …”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 72%

“…Except for three studies, the sample size was either not based on any calculation or this was not reported. Thirteen studies employed rigorous sampling strategy at all levels of sampling with well defined sampling frames at the household or institutional level through the use of household census [20,21,26,29,32-34], electoral registers [27] or staff registers [23,25,28,30,31]. Three studies lacking defined sampling frames examined interested volunteers on a market day [35], Christian worshippers attending church services or persons in every other house in a rural village [28].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies which measured BP at two visits, repeated the measurements one day [23], 3 weeks [31] or one month [30] later for those whose BPs were greater than 140/90 mmHg during the initial visit [30,31]. In one study, repeated measurements were done for 16% of study subjects 2 weeks later in order to correct a regression dilution effect arising because baseline BP tends to underestimate the usual BP [34].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Only four of 15 studies reported a higher prevalence in women [19,27,32,33]. The widest sex disparities in prevalence were observed in the rural Kpando district [35] and in the early urban studies of Accra [21,23,24]. In one study, the prevalence in men was more than twice that in women [23].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Epidemic of hypertension in Ghana: a systematic review

2010

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BackgroundHypertension is a major risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases in developing countries. A comprehensive review of the prevalence of hypertension provides crucial information for the evaluation and implementation of appropriate programmes.MethodsThe PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched for published articles on the population-based prevalence of adult hypertension in Ghana between 1970 and August 2009, supplemented by a manual search of retrieved references. Fifteen unique population-based articles in non-pregnant humans were obtained. In addition, two relevant unpublished graduate student theses from one university department were identified after a search of its 1996-2008 theses.ResultsThe age and sex composition of study populations, sampling strategy, measurement of blood pressure, definition of hypertension varied between studies. The prevalence of hypertension (BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg ± antihypertensive treatment) ranged from 19% to 48% between studies. Sex differences were generally minimal whereas urban populations tended to have higher prevalence than rural population in studies with mixed population types. Factors independently associated with hypertension included older age group, over-nutrition and alcohol consumption. Whereas there was a trend towards improved awareness, treatment and control between 1972 and 2005, less than one-third of hypertensive subjects were aware they had hypertension and less than one-tenth had their blood pressures controlled in most studies.ConclusionHypertension is clearly an important public health problem in Ghana, even in the poorest rural communities. Emerging opportunities such as the national health insurance scheme, a new health policy emphasising health promotion and healthier lifestyles and effective treatment should help prevent and control hypertension.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 72%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Epidemic of hypertension in Ghana: a systematic review

2010

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“…Among the urban dwellers, 24% knew they were hypertensive and 7.2% were on some form of treatment, though only half were being treated adequately. 4,9,28 More recently, in Accra, Amoah found overall crude and age-standardized prevalence rates of hypertension (BP Ն140/90 mm Hg) to be 28.3% and 27.3%, respectively. 10 Hypertension was more common in women than men.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence, Detection, Management, and Control of Hypertension in Ashanti, West Africa

et al. 2004

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Abstract-Hypertension and stroke are important threats to the health of adults in sub-Saharan Africa. Nevertheless, detection of hypertension is haphazard and stroke prevention targets are currently unattainable. Prevalence, detection, management, and control of hypertension were assessed in 1013 men (nϭ385) and women (nϭ628) In a recent study, the prevalence of hypertension was found to be 28% in North America and 44% in western Europe. 1 Until recently, hypertension was thought to be rare in rural Africa 3-4 ; on the other hand, hypertension and its complications, including stroke, heart failure, and renal failure, have been reported in blacks all over the world. Hypertension is now being widely reported in Africa and is the most common cause of cardiovascular disease on the continent. 5 It is also a major factor in the high mortality of adults in sub-Saharan Africa. 6 In Ghana, hypertensive renal disease is a common complication in both Kumasi and Accra. [7][8] In Ghana, earlier studies revealed a hypertension prevalence of 4.5% among rural dwellers and of 8% to 13% in the town. 9 This was part of an evaluation of the health burden of cardiovascular diseases in Accra and was to form the basis for setting up a hypertension control program. More recently, the prevalence of hypertension in urban Accra was found to be 28.3% (crude) and 27.3% (age-standardized). 10 Hypertension is becoming more common as urbanization increases, and this has been shown in several studies in Africa. 11 A number of studies of urban African populations have shown a positive correlation between blood pressure, age, and gender. The prevalence of hypertension in Accra was much higher in men than in women aged Ͻ40 years but similar above that age. 9 On the other hand, in a recent study prevalence was higher in women than in men. 10 In the developed world, the detection, treatment, and control of hypertension have been characterized by the "rule of halves," 12 although recent evidence suggests that there has been a general improvement. 13 However, in much of sub-Saharan Africa, due to scarce resources and inadequate healthcare provision, detection, treatment, and control are very poor. 9,10,14 The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence, detection, management, and control of hypertension among men and women living in rural and semi-urban villages in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, West Africa. 15 It was part of a community-based study of the prevention of hypertension and stroke in the same region.

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