Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hypertension in Hargeisa, Somaliland: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and represents a major public health challenge worldwide. There is a paucity of information regarding the hypertension status of adults in Somaliland. We aimed to assess the magnitude of, and factors associated with, hypertension among adult patients seeking care at Hargeisa group hospital in Hargeisa city, Somaliland. We conducted a health facility-based cross-sectional study enrolling adult outpatients. We used the World Health Organization (WHO) STEPwise surveillance approach to obtain patient information. A total of 319 participants (54.2% males; mean age 40.4 ± 14.0 years) had complete data records. The prevalence of hypertension was 22.6% (95% confidence interval; 18.2–27.6%). The prevalence of hypertension increased with age and was higher in males (24.9%) than in females (19.9%). Age, cholesterolaemia and obesity were significantly associated with hypertension. Separate analyses for females and males revealed that obesity was significantly associated with hypertension in females but not in males. On the contrary, cholesterolaemia was significantly associated with hypertension in males but not in females. We found a high prevalence of hypertension and multiple risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in outpatients seeking care in Hargeisa. Our findings emphasise the need for enhanced focus on the prevention and management of NCDs in Somaliland.

Prevalence of Undiagnosed Hypertension Among Adult Displaced Individuals in Baidoa Camps, Somalia

“…The highest odds of hypertension were observed among participants aged over 50 years. Furthermore, our findings indicated that male gender, history of khat consumption, and overweight status were associated with increased odds of hypertension, consistent with a study conducted in Hargeisa, Northern Somalia 10…”

“…The highest odds of hypertension were observed among participants aged over 50 years. Furthermore, our findings indicated that male gender, history of khat consumption, and overweight status were associated with increased odds of hypertension, consistent with a study conducted in Hargeisa, Northern Somalia 10 Similarly, the aforementioned study on hypertension in Hargeisa, Somalia, revealed associations between male sex, higher BMI, and advancing age with hypertension, consistent with findings from studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa, which identified older age as strongly associated with hypertension. These observations are supported by scientific evidence indicating that as individuals age, they are more prone to developing hypertension due to increased vascular resistance.…”

“…These findings underscore a noteworthy proportion of adult internally displaced persons (IDPs) living with undiagnosed hypertension, highlighting potential gaps in awareness of blood pressure status within this population. The observed prevalence of hypertension of around 17% aligns closely with findings from a previous study conducted in Northern Somalia 10 , which reported a hypertension prevalence of 22.6%. This consistency underscores the pervasive nature of hypertension as a silent ailment, with numerous individuals harboring the condition within the community without receiving a formal diagnosis.…”