Prevalence and associated factors of hypertension among adults in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundHypertension is a growing public health problem in many developing countries including Ethiopia. However, its prevention and control has not yet received due attention. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of hypertension among adults in Gondar city, North-West Ethiopia.MethodsA community based cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2012 in Gondar city. Participants aged 35 years and older were recruited using multi-stage random sampling technique. Data were collected by face-to-face interview technique after verbal informed consent. Additionally, weight, height and Blood Pressure (BP) of participants were measured following standard procedures. Hypertension was defined as having Systolic BP ≥140 mmHG or Diastolic BP≥ 90mmHG or reported use of regular anti-hypertensive medications prescribed by professionals for raised BP. Data were collected by clinical nurses and then entered into a computer using Epi Info version 3.5.3 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Multiple logistic regressions were fitted and Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to identify associated factors.ResultsA total of 679 participants were included in this study. About one in –five participants (21.0%) were aged 65 years or older. Obesity among all participants was 5.6%. Hundred ninety two (28.3%) were hypertensive of whom more than a third (37.0%) did not know they had hypertension. Family history of hypertension (AOR = 2.71, 95%CI; 1.37-5.36), obesity (AOR = 5.50, 95%CI; 2.07-14.62), self reported diabetes (AOR = 4.15, 95%CI; 1.77-9.72), age ≥ 55 years (AOR=3.33, 95%CI; 1.88-5.90) and not continuously walking for 10 minutes per day (AOR = 2.86, 95%CI; 1.15-7.12) were factors associated with hypertension.ConclusionThere was a high prevalence of hypertension probably indicating a hidden epidemic in this community. Age ≥ 55 years, obesity, family history of hypertension, physical inactivity and self reported diabetes were associated with hypertension. Hence, we recommend the design and implementation of community based screening programs.

Behavioral Risk Factors of Hypertension among Pastoral and Agro Pastoral Adult Communities, Eastern Ethiopia, Somali Regional State, 2016

“…Individual who did not engaged in any kind physical activity [AOR: 16.24 (2.12 -99.12)] were at higher risk of developing HTN. This finding is in accordance with other similar studies [7,14,17]. Khat chewer individuals were 2 times [AOR: 1.98 (2.987 -5.456)] more like to be hypertensive as compared their counterparts which is comparable with studies [19,20] conducted in different time.…”

“…This result was comparable with a community based study conducted in Mekelle town, 11% [9]. This prevalence estimate in this study is much lower than those reported from most urban communities of Sub-Saharan Africa (23.7-33.3%), Gondar (28.3%), Addis Ababa (30%), and South Ethiopia (16.9%) [4,7,10,13] respectively. This discrepancy may be explained in two ways; First, the age difference in the study populations (>20 years in our case while in other studies age of participants ranges between 25-65 years).…”

“…On top of this genetic difference which could probably affect blood pressure. However when we calculate the age specific proportion of HTN it is comparable with Gondar, South Ethiopia and Addis Ababa [4,7,10].…”

“…However it experiencing double mortality burden as evidenced among adult population in Addis Ababa [6]. In addition a study conducted in Gondar by 2012 among 679 subjects aged above 35 years resulted 28% [7] of prevalence of HTN whereas done in Addis Ababa in 2010 on 1935 subjects of working age reported higher prevalence in men 22% than among women 14.9% [8]. In Ethiopia, a cross sectional study conducted in Mekelle town in 2013, indicated 11% of subjects were hypertensive [9].…”

Prevalence of hypertension and its associated risk factors in adults: a nique study at field practice area of urban health training centre

“…Similar findings were also reported by Todkar , Gujrathi VV et al while Awoke et al states the risk is four times more which attributes to the micro vascular damage caused due to chronic hyperglycemia seen in diabetes. 22,23 There were more number of cases 27.5% as compared to controls 10.0% having habit of tobacco chewing [OR=3.4(1.4-8.2) pvalue=0.005]. This finding is in agreement with a study done at urban area of Rewa.…”