Cham, B;
Scholes, S;
Ng Fat, L;
Badjie, O;
Mindell, JS;
(2018)
Burden of hypertension in The Gambia: evidence from a national World Health Organization (WHO) STEP survey.
International Journal of Epidemiology
, 47
(3)
pp. 860-871.
10.1093/ije/dyx279.
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Abstract
Background: Non-communicable diseases are increasing in sub-Saharan Africa and are estimated to account for 32% of adult deaths in The Gambia. Worldwide, prevalence of hypertension is highest in the African region (46%) and a very high proportion is undiagnosed. This study examined diagnosed and undiagnosed hypertension in The Gambian adult population. Methods: Data were collected in 2010 from a nationally representative random sample of 4111 adults aged 25-64 years, using the World Health Organization STEPwise cross-sectional survey methods. Analyses were restricted to non-pregnant participants with three valid blood pressure measurements (n = 3573). We conducted gender-stratified univariate and multivariate regression analyses to identify the strongest sociodemographic, behavioural and biological risk factors associated with hypertension. Results: Almost one-third of adults were hypertensive; a high proportion were undiagnosed, particularly among men (86% of men vs 71% of women with hypertension, P < 0.001). Rural and semi-urban residents and overweight/obese persons had increased odds of hypertension. Compared with urban residents, participants from one of the most rural regions had higher odds of hypertension among both men [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.2; 95% CI: 1.6-6.4] and women (AOR 2.5; 95% CI: 1.3-4.6). Other factors strongly associated with hypertension in multivariate analyses were age, smoking, physical inactivity and ethnicity. Conclusions: Rural and semi-urban residence were strongly associated with hypertension, contrary to what has been found in similar studies in sub-Saharan Africa. Intervention to reduce the burden of hypertension in The Gambia could be further targeted towards rural areas.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Burden of hypertension in The Gambia: evidence from a national World Health Organization (WHO) STEP survey |
| Location: | England |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1093/ije/dyx279 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyx279 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Gambia, Hypertension, WHO STEP survey, health examination survey, sub-Saharan Africa |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health > Epidemiology and Public Health |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10043799 |
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