Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of High Blood Pressure: A Population-Based Survey in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam

Abstract

BackgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Vietnam and hypertension (HTN) is an important and prevalent risk factor for CVD in the adult Vietnamese population. Despite an increasing prevalence of HTN in this country, information about the awareness, treatment, and control of HTN is limited. The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of HTN, and factors associated with these endpoints, in residents of a mountainous province in Vietnam.MethodsData from 2,368 adults (age≥25 years) participating in a population-based survey conducted in 2011 in Thai Nguyen province were analyzed. All eligible participants completed a structured questionnaire and were examined by community health workers using a standardized protocol.ResultsThe overall prevalence of HTN in this population was 23%. Older age, male sex, and being overweight were associated with a higher odds of having HTN, while higher educational level was associated with a lower odds of having HTN. Among those with HTN, only 34% were aware of their condition, 43% of those who were aware they had HTN received treatment and, of these, 39% had their HTN controlled.ConclusionsNearly one in four adults in Thai Nguyen is hypertensive, but far fewer are aware of this condition and even fewer have their blood pressure adequately controlled. Public health strategies increasing awareness of HTN in the community, as well as improvements in the treatment and control of HTN, remain needed to reduce the prevalence of HTN and related morbidity and mortality.

Blood Pressure Control and Exaggerated Blood Pressure Response in Nigerians with Essential Hypertension

“…This is similar to low percentage or prevalence that have been previously reported in the literature 1,2,15. Also, rSBP and DBP were significantly lower in the controlled BP group despite similar age, BMI, and antihypertensive medications (with the exception of BB) in the two groups.…”

Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension and Its Risk Factors in (Central) Vietnam

“…This could be explained by the previous studies sampled in a population aged 25 years or above and in different regions in Vietnam. During the last decades, there has been increasing prevalence of hypertension among Vietnamese citizens [3, 7, 13, 14]. However, reassuringly, the prevalence of hypertension in this study was rather similar to age-standardized prevalence reported in cross-sectional national study [3].…”

“…According the multivariate logistic regression analysis, excessive alcohol consumption was independently associated with diagnosed hypertension and treatment among all hypertensive patients. Previous studies also indicated that hypertension was higher in those with excessive alcohol consumption [13]. Hypertension awareness, treatment, and control should be integrated in the strategy of hypertension management for alcohol consumers.…”

“…In many developing countries, the treatment and control of hypertension were not only a burden for the health service in the rural areas, despite that their prevalence still remained lower than that in the urban areas [21]. In Vietnam, the prevalence of hypertension in rural areas has increased from 14.1% in 2005 to 22% in 2011, but the health services have not yet sufficiently developed to meet the population's needs [12, 13]. It was also suggested that the socioeconomic status gap had a strong influence on hypertension management.…”

Awareness of hypertension consequences is less than awareness of risk factors for hypertension

“…1,[3][4][5][6] Because of its high prevalence, strong impact on public health, susceptibility to lifestyle changes, need for early diagnosis and adverse consequences, many health education campaigns focus on hypertension. 7,8 However, although primary prevention plays a crucial role in fighting this condition, the effectiveness of educational campaigns on hypertension in motivating individuals to fight it is still debated. 2,3,[9][10][11][12][13] In this article, we examine data on awareness of arterial hypertension risk factors and of its consequences, collected during one such campaign carried out in the city of Milan, Italy.…”