Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in the elderly population of Singapore

Abstract

A comprehensive picture of the management of hypertension in the increasing elderly population in Singapore is lacking. In this study, we assess the prevalence and correlates of hypertension and of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among 4494 elderly Singaporeans (X60 years) participating in a recent representative survey. The weighted prevalences of hypertension (systolic blood pressure X140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure X90 mm Hg or current use of antihypertension medication) and of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension were assessed. We assessed the extent of association of these outcomes with socio-demographic (age, gender, ethnicity, education, housing type, living arrangement and social participation) and health (body mass, diabetes and cognitive status) variables using multivariable logistic regression. Nearly three-fourths (73.9%) of participants were found to have hypertension. Of this number, 30.8% were unaware that they had hypertension, 32.0% were not being treated for the disease and 75.9% had suboptimal control of their blood pressure. Among those aware of their hypertension, only 1.9% were untreated. However, nearly two-thirds (64.5%) of treated hypertensives had suboptimal control. Age, gender, ethnicity, education, housing type, body mass and diabetes were significantly correlated with lack of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension. Although the specific 'at-risk' subgroups varied by the outcome, men and Malays had consistently higher odds for all three unfavorable outcomes. There is a need to improve awareness, treatment and especially control of hypertension among elderly Singaporeans. Primary and secondary prevention efforts targeting the elderly and their primary health-care providers are called for, as are regular data collection efforts based on representative samples.

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“…In this study, the prevalence of hypertension was more in all age groups (59.8%) which also corresponded to earlier studies done in Singapore 13 and Nigeria 14 . This was also in consistence with a recent study done by another group in Malaysia 15 .…”

“…However, in our study the sample size was less from rural population compared to urban elderly. In this study, antihypertensive drugs were the most commonly used prescription drugs (58.6%) which corroborates the findings of Rahul Malhotra, et al, 13 .…”

Yaşlılarda Hipertansiyon

“…Yaşlı bireyin fizik muayenesinde; kan basıncı ölçümü yapılmalı, boy ve kilo ölçümleri yapılarak vücut kitle indeksi hesaplanmalı, bel çevresi ölçülmeli, kalp yetmezliği belirtileri ile nörolojik değerlendirme yapılmalı, gözler ve periferik nabız kontrol edilmelidir (18,23,33).…”

Yaşlılarda Hipertansiyon Yönetiminde Hemşirenin Rolü

“…Bu olgularda sistolik kan basıncı ≥140 mmHg, diastolik kan basıncı ise ≤90 mmHg'dır. [1][2][3] Hipertansiyon 65 yaş ve üzeri kişilerin yarısından fazlasında da ciddi bir sağlık sorunudur. Yaşın ilerlemesiyle birlikte kan basıncı düzeyi de artmaktadır.…”