Prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and associated factors among adults in Durame town, Southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundUndiagnosed hypertension is a major public health problem causing severe cardiovascular disorders that are responsible for a high proportion of morbidities and mortalities, especially among adults living in low-income countries. However, there is a paucity of information that describes its epidemiology in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and associated factors among adults in Durame town, southern Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July to September 2022. Data were collected from 526 randomly selected adults aged ≥18 years using a pre-tested questionnaire. The binary logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with undiagnosed hypertension.ResultsThe prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension among adults in Durame town, southern Ethiopia, was found to be 14.0% (95% CI: 11.2–17.1). Family history of hypertension [AOR = 6.9, 95% CI: (3.62, 13.27)], drinking too much alcohol [AOR = 5.7, 95% CI: (2.97, 10.75)], physical inactivity [AOR = 2.5, 95% CI: (1.34, 4.73)], consuming street foods regularly [AOR = 2.8, 95% CI: (1.28, 6.01)], and seeking healthcare for hypertensive symptoms without serious illness [AOR = 2.4, 95% CI: (1.28, 4.56)] were significantly associated with developing undiagnosed hypertension.ConclusionThe study has revealed that one in seven adults had undiagnosed hypertension in the study area. Thus, interventions to prevent hypertension should target increasing awareness among people with a family history of hypertension, controlling excessive alcohol consumption, promoting physical exercise, regulating street food markets, and improving the health-seeking behavior of adults in urban settings.

Prevalence and Predictors of Newly Diagnosed Hypertension in an Opportunistic Screening Program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: An Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study

“…Physical inactivity was found in 62.5% of the participants in this study, which was higher than the results of the studies done in Durame town, Southern Ethiopia (36%) (24), Nigeria (30.7%) (28), Wolkait Tegedie Zone, Northwest Ethiopia (35.2%) [35], and physical inactivity was significantly associated with hypertension in all of these studies, including the current one. The higher prevalence of physical inactivity in the current study might partly explain the higher prevalence of hypertension in the present study as compared with most other studies.…”

“…The prevalence of newly diagnosed HTN (36.2%) in the present study is higher than the overall prevalence of hypertension reported from the national NCDs STEPS survey among the Ethiopian adult population (15.8%) [20], community-based cross-sectional studies in Addis Ababa, central Ethiopia (29.2%) [21], and Dire Dawa city, eastern Ethiopia (24.43%) [22], and a cross-sectional study on public health facilities in Addis Ababa, central Ethiopia (32.3%) [23]. It was also much higher than the prevalence of newly diagnosed HTN reported from studies done in Debre Markos town, north-west Ethiopia (12.7%) [24], Durame town, southern Ethiopia (14%) [25], and Gimbi Town, western Ethiopia (24.8%) [26]. The higher prevalence of undiagnosed HTN in the current study as compared with that of the overall prevalence of HTN in the national NCDs STEPS survey may be explained by the increasing burden of the predisposing factors for HTN.…”

“…The median BMI of the participants was 25 kg/m2 (IQR:[23][24][25][26][27]; 13% of them had obesity (BMI: ≥ 30 kg/m2), and 38.5% of them were overweight (BMI: 25-29.9 kg/m2). Newly diagnosed HTN was more prevalent among obese (56.4%) and overweight (46.6%) individuals as compared to those with a normal BMI (22.6%).…”

Undiagnosed hypertension and associated factors among adult population in central zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia 2020: A cross‐sectional study

“…According to a study conducted in Durame town, Southern Ethiopia: family history of hypertension, drinking too much alcohol, physical inactivity, and low seeking healthcare for hypertensive symptoms without serious illness were significantly associated with developing undiagnosed hypertension. 23 Being older, overweight, and having a family history of hypertension is significantly associated with undiagnosed hypertension. 24 A study conducted in Mizan-Aman Town, Bench Sheko Zone, Southwest Ethiopia revealed that older age, being male, low physical activity, low consumption of fruits and vegetables, and higher body mass index (BMI) were significantly associated with undiagnosed hypertension.…”