Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in the Palestinian population

Abstract

We determined the prevalence of hypertension and the level of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among Palestinian adults in a population-based cross-sectional survey. Two-stage stratified sampling method was used to select 2077 participants from the general population aged 25 years and over. Trained observers obtained two blood pressure (BP) measurements from each individual by the use of a standardized mercury sphygmomanometer after a 5-min sitting rest. Information on sociogeographical factors and antihypertensive medications was obtained using a standard questionnaire. Hypertension was defined as a mean systolic BP (SBP) 140 mm Hg, diastolic BP (DBP) 90 mm Hg, and/or use of antihypertensive medications. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 27.6%, with a higher percentage among men (29.2 vs 26.4%; P=0.04). Hypertension increased with age in both men and women. Among hypertensive patients, 51.0% were aware of their elevated BP, 40.2% had treatment and only 9.5% achieved targeted BP control (<140/90 mm Hg). Patients under antihypertensive treatment showed SBP and DBP that were only 3.1 mm Hg and 2.5 mm Hg lower than individuals without antihypertensive treatment, respectively. The data show that hypertension prevalence among Palestinian adults is high, whereas the proportions of awareness treatment and control of hypertension were low. Concerted public health effort is urgently required to improve the detection, treatment and control of hypertension in Palestine.

Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension in Lebanon

“…However, the sociocultural norms such as a high‐fat and ‐sodium diet, no regular exercise, and high rates of smoking and the lack of governmental public health measures such as inexistent or ineffective regulations on food labeling (eg, amount of salt and calories) and the low budgets spent on health care are comparable. This contributes to the low awareness and control rates seen in neighboring countries . Public health implications of this study are thus not only relevant to Lebanon but also to similar upper‐middle–income countries and to other countries in the MENA regions.…”

Slow breathing has unequal effects on prehypertensives from different ethnic/racial groups

“…Little is known about predisposition of hypertension among Arabs; however, a few studies reported that hypertension is prevalent in Arabic population. 6,7 Previously, it was shown, that Arabs had enhanced pressor response to orthostasis, despite similar baseline BP among Caucasians, Africans and Indians. 16 Possibly, the low cardiovagal activity found in the current study in normotensive Arabs may be relevant to their predisposition to hypertension.…”

“…[2][3][4][5][6][7] However, data regarding the prevalence of hypertension in South Asians are controversial, unlike the results concerning to the high prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in this population. 8 It has been demonstrated that slowing breathing to 6 breaths per minute can reduce blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients, patients with chronic heart failure, and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but not in normotensive control subjects.…”

High rate of hypertension control among treated patients attending a teaching primary healthcare centre in Jordan

“…In Jordan, based on previous studies, control rates ranged from 23.7% to 83%,17–19 22 control rates in regional countries were also variable and were as follows: Saudi Arabia 37%,12 Oman 39%,15 Lebanon 54%,14 Tunisia 44%, Egypt and Syria 8%,11 Palestine 33.2% 13. In economically developed countries control rates ranged from 35.1% to 66.…”

“…In Palestine, control rate was higher in women than in men (35.9% vs 29.3%),13 in Lebanon, control rate was 27%,14 in Oman 39%15, while in Turkey 20.7% 16…”