Hypertension prevalence and control in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Abstract

This study examines the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, using both the American Heart Association and conventional thresholds (130/80 and 140/90 mm Hg, respectively). In this randomized cross-sectional study, two-stage cluster sampling was used to obtain a sample of 4515 individuals aged ≥20 years. Hypertension was defined by the use of antihypertensives in the last 2 weeks or a blood pressure at or above the thresholds of 140/90 and 130/80 mm Hg. The mean age of the participants was 41.1 ± 14.0 years and 54.5% were women. Hypertension prevalence was 25.6% (using 140/90 mm Hg) and 46.5% (using 130/80 mm Hg). Prevalence increased with age and below 50 years men were consistently more likely to be hypertensive. Among hypertensive participants, the rates of awareness, treatment, and control were 69.7%, 46.8%, and 24.0% (using 140/90 mm Hg) and 49.1%, 25.8%, and 6.4% (using 130/80 mm Hg, respectively).Men had lower rates of awareness, treatment, and control compared with women, with the most pronounced differences at younger ages. This study shows that awareness, treatment, and control rates in Ulaanbaatar are better than in most low-and middle-income countries but are still suboptimal. The largest "care gap" was in young men where a regulatory requirement for annual workplace blood pressure screening has the potential to enhance care. A major hypertension control program has just been initiated in Ulaanbaatar.

National trends in prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among adults in Mongolia from 4 cross-sectional surveys in 2005, 2009, 2013, and 2019

“…The prevalence of awareness among hypertensives (49.3% in 2009 to 53.0% in 2019), the prevalence of treatment among aware (44.1% in 2009 to 31.5% in 2019), and the prevalence of the control rate among hypertensives (21.6% in 2005 to 26.5% in 2019) were higher than in the 44 LMICs study (aware: 39.2%, treatment: 29.9% and control: 10.3%), [ 2 ] and lower in terms of awareness (69.7%) and treatment (46.8%) but not control (24.0%) in a previous study in Ulaanbaatar in 2017–2018. [ 6 ] In China, [ 4 ] Iran, [ 37 ] and Malaysia [ 17 ] awareness, treatment and control increased significantly over time, [ 4 , 37 ] in urban India awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension remained unchanged, [ 19 ] and in this study awareness was unchanged, treatment decreased, and control increased. Consistent with previous findings, [ 2 , 6 ] the older age group and being a woman were associated with awareness, and control.…”

“…[5] In a population survey (≥20 years) in 2017-2018 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, the prevalence of hypertension was 25.6%. [6] The prevalence of obesity (≥27 kg/m 2 ) increased from 26.4% in 2005 to 38.3% measurements were analyzed. The overall response rates were 95.0% in 2005, 95.0% in 2009, 97.4% in 2013, and 98.1% in 2019.…”

“…[ 5 ] In a population survey (≥20 years) in 2017–2018 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, the prevalence of hypertension was 25.6%. [ 6 ] The prevalence of obesity (≥27 kg/m 2 ) increased from 26.4% in 2005 to 38.3% in 2013 in Mongolia, [ 7 ] and the prevalence of low physical activity increased from 10.9% in 2005 to 27.2% in 2013 in Mongolia. [ 8 ] In Mongolia in 2019, high systolic blood pressure (BP) and dietary risks made the highest contribution to rates of disability-adjusted-life-years, and cardiovascular diseases (ischemic heart disease and stroke) caused the highest mortality.…”

Risk Factors for Cerebral Aneurysm Rupture in Mongolia

“…In addition, worldwide SAH decline was paralleled with a decrease of blood pressure in a recent meta-analysis [ 9 ]. In modern day Mongolia, high blood pressure constitutes a frequent medical condition with prevalence rates comparable to western societies [ 32 ]. Smoking is a very common lifestyle habit in Mongolia and considered to be a major local driver of morbidity and mortality particularly in males [ 16 , 33 ].…”

Effects of S-Amlodipine in the Management of Hypertension in Mongolian Patients

“…The most significant barrier to hypertension control is a lack of hypertension awareness, especially among the young men. Also, more than half of hypertensive men under the age of 50 were unaware about the condition" [5]. Several factors, such as nutritional factors, sedentary lifestyle, socioeconomic position, and environmental factors, may have influenced the prevalence of hypertension in this country [3].…”