Prevalence of hypertension and possible risk factors of hypertension unawareness among individuals aged 30–75 years from two Panamanian provinces: Results from population-based cross-sectional studies, 2010 and 2019

Abstract

Background Recent estimates of hypertension in Panama remain unknown. We aim to describe the variation in prevalence and unawareness of hypertension in two Panamanian provinces using two different cross-sectional population-based studies and to investigate risk factors associated with hypertension unawareness. Methods Data were derived from a sub-national study conducted in the provinces of Panama and Colon (PREFREC-2010 [2,733 participants]) and from a nationally representative study (ENSPA-2019), in which we restricted our analyses to the same provinces (4,653 participants). Individuals aged 30–75 years who had (a) self-reported history of hypertension or (b) blood pressure (BP) ≥140/90mmHg or (c) a combination or both were classified as hypertensive. Participants with BP≥140/90mmHg who denied a history of hypertension were considered unaware of the condition. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between risk factors and unawareness, expressed as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Findings In 2010, the prevalence and unawareness of hypertension in men were 51.6% (95% CI: 45.7–57.5) and 32.3% (25.4–40.1), respectively, and in women 46.0% (42.1–49.9) and 16.1% (12.6–20.4), respectively. In 2019, the prevalence and unawareness of hypertension in men were 46.5% (42.1–51.0) and 52.3% (45.9–58.6), and in women 42.1% (39.6–44.7) and 33.3% (29.8–37.0). Men (2010 and 2019), age <50 years (2010 and 2019), having no/primary education (2010), and living in a non-urban region (2019) were positively associated with hypertension unawareness, whereas obesity (2010), physical inactivity (2010), family history of hypertension (2019), and BP assessment in the year before study enrollment (2010 and 2019) were inversely associated with hypertension unawareness. Interpretation Benefits of a decrease in the prevalence of hypertension are being undermined by an increase in hypertension unawareness. Actions should be encouraged to strengthen the implementation of the existing healthcare program for cardiovascular risk factor control.

Physical Inactivity and Sedentary Behaviour among Panamanian Adults: Results from the National Health Survey of Panama (ENSPA) 2019

“…The ENSPA study has been described previously [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Briefly, between June and December 2019, participants who had been living in their households for at least six months were invited to participate in the study, which comprised a long questionnaire, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, and blood sampling.…”

Diabetes mellitus, its prevalence, awareness, and control in Panama: Data from ENSPA 2019, a national cross-sectional study

“…The sampling plan applied for ENSPA followed a complex, 3-stage stratified sample design by clusters with national representativeness, including urban, rural, and indigenous areas. The sampling scheme is described in detail in previous publications [10][11][12][13] and on the ENSPA website. [9] The data analyzed in the present study were collected within the framework of ENSPA, where 17,997 participants aged 18 years or older (for comparison with previous studies) were interviewed from June to December 2019.…”