Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Bissau, Western Africa

Abstract

Hypertension is the leading preventable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. In Guinea-Bissau there are no previous population-based hypertension surveys. Therefore, the authors aimed to estimate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of high blood pressure among adults living in Bissau. A sample (n = 973) of dwellers in Bissau, aged 18-69 years, was assembled through stratified and cluster sampling.Patients underwent face-to-face interviews and blood pressure measurements following the World Health Organization Stepwise Approach to Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance. The prevalence of hypertension was 26.9%, and 51.4% of hypertensive individuals were aware of their condition, of whom 51.8% reported having received pharmacological treatment in the previous 2 weeks. Among the latter, 49.9% had blood pressure values below 140/90 mm Hg. These findings show that hypertension has become a major public health problem in Guinea-Bissau, emphasizing the urgent need to develop and implement national strategies for the prevention and management of hypertension.

How to Improve Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension in Africa, and How to Reduce Its Consequences: A Call to Action From the World Hypertension League

“…Effective BP control was obtained only by 7% (95% CI, 5%–8%) of all individuals with hypertension (Figure 1A). SSA is among the regions of the world with lowest rates of hypertension detection, treatment, and control, and several countries in this region have seen little improvement in these outcomes over the past 30 years 10 A recent study by Turè et al 11 reports a 26.9% prevalence of hypertension (systolic BP ≥140 mm Hg, diastolic BP ≥90 mm Hg, or use of antihypertensive medication within the previous 2 weeks) in adults living in Guinea-Bissau. In those with hypertension, 51.4% reported they were already aware of their diagnosis and 51.8% of those who were aware reported use of antihypertensive drug therapy within the previous 2 weeks.…”

Inadequate hypertension control rates: A global concern for countries of all income levels

“…performed a vital and opportune study geared toward establishing the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension in Guinea‐Bissau, West Africa. 1 Worldwide, hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and premature death and medical evidence demonstrates that blood pressure reduction significantly reduces cardiovascular events. 2 This benefit far outweighs the risk of treatment, including pharmacologic side effects, and is cost effective even in low‐ to middle‐income countries.…”

“…To address the urgency of improving hypertension control, Turé et al. performed a timely study, mentioned above, in Guinea‐Bissau, West Africa 1 . Guinea‐Bissau is a small low‐ to middle‐income country in West Africa with an estimated population of 1,726,000 6 .…”

“…To address the urgency of improving hypertension control, Turé et al performed a timely study, mentioned above, in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. 1 Guinea-Bissau is a small low-to middle-income country in West Africa with an estimated population of 1,726,000. 6 The authors used data from the most recent census and selected a sample of 973 adults living in 373 households in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, with a total population of 492,004 (2015).…”

“…Hypertension detection and management is at the forefront of global healthcare and in order to address hypertension control, Turé et al. performed a vital and opportune study geared toward establishing the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension in Guinea‐Bissau, West Africa 1 . Worldwide, hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and premature death and medical evidence demonstrates that blood pressure reduction significantly reduces cardiovascular events 2 .…”