Sociodemographic and socioeconomic patterns of chronic non-communicable disease among the older adult population in Ghana

Abstract

BackgroundIn Ghana, the older adult population is projected to increase from 5.3% of the total population in 2015 to 8.9% by 2050. National and local governments will need information about non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in this population in order to allocate health system resources and respond to the health needs of older adults.DesignThe 2007/08 Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Wave 1 in Ghana used face-to-face interviews in a nationally representative sample of persons aged 50-plus years. Individual respondents were asked about their overall health, diagnosis of 10 chronic non-communicable conditions, and common health risk factors. A number of anthropometric and health measurements were also taken in all respondents, including height, weight, waist and hip circumferences, and blood pressure (BP).ResultsThis paper includes 4,724 adults aged 50-plus years. The highest prevalence of self-reported chronic conditions was for hypertension [14.2% (95% CI 12.8–15.6)] and osteoarthritis [13.8%, (95% CI 11.7–15.9)]. The figure for hypertension reached 51.1% (95% CI 48.9–53.4) when based on BP measurement. The prevalence of current smokers was 8.1% (95% CI 7.0–9.2), while 2.0 (95% CI 1.5–2.5) were infrequent/frequent heavy drinkers, 67.9% (95% CI 65.2–70.5) consume insufficient fruits and vegetables, and 25.7% (95% CI 23.1–28.3) had a low level of physical activity. Almost 10% (95% CI 8.3–11.1) of adults were obese and 77.6% (95% CI 76.0–79.2) had a high-risk waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Risks from tobacco and alcohol consumption continued into older age, while insufficient fruit and vegetable intake, low physical activity and obesity increased with increasing age. The patterns of risk factors varied by income quintile, with higher prevalence of obesity and low physical activity in wealthier respondents, and higher prevalence of insufficient fruit and vegetable intake and smoking in lower-income respondents. The multivariate analysis showed that only urban/rural residence and body mass index (BMI) were common determinates of both self-reported and measured hypertension, while all other determinants have differing patterns.ConclusionsThe findings show a high burden of chronic diseases in the older Ghanaian population, as well as high rates of modifiable health risk factors. The government could consider targeting these health behaviors in conjunction with work to improve enrolment rates in the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Validity of Self‐Report Data in Hypertension Research: Findings From The Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health

“…In addition, hypertension was measured through physical examinations using a Boso Medistar Wrist BP Monitor Model S (Jungingen, Germany). 12 Previous validation studies indicate that these wrist BP monitoring devices generate accurate measurements especially when the arm is well positioned in relation to the heart. 13 The model has also been validated to the standards of the European Society of Hypertension and that of the International Organization for Standardization 9002.…”

“…After taking three deep slow breaths, respondents' BP was then measured three times on their left wrists with a minute in between each measurement. 12 BP measurements were performed at the homes of respondents. For the purposes of this study, a respondent was considered hypertensive if the average of the three measurements was ≥140 mm Hg (SBP) or ≥90 mm Hg (DBP) and if the patient self-reported as hypertensive and indicated that they were currently taking antihypertensive medications/treatments.…”

“…16 In their study of chronic diseases among older populations in Ghana, Minicuci and colleagues found extreme underestimation in the case of self-reported hypertension compared to data measured through physical examinations. 12 The gap between self-report and data collected using physical examination on hypertension has also been emphasized …”

“…16 In their study of chronic diseases among older populations in Ghana, Minicuci and colleagues found extreme underestimation in the case of self-reported hypertension compared to data measured through physical examinations. 12 The gap between self-report and data collected using physical examination on hypertension has also been emphasized by researchers in other jurisdictions. [17][18][19] While several studies indicate little congruence between self-report and clinical/biometric data, very few have examined the reasons for such differences.…”

"Prevalence of Risk Factors for Diabetes Among Construction Workers in Majmaah City, Saudi Arabia"

“…The results have shown that more than 28.3% of the study population was aged more than 40 years which according to other studies 37 is one of the non -modifiable risk factors for developing diabetes and hypertension. The total number of participants with a positive family history was not significant which was in contrast to other studies 38,39,40 that showed a positive correlation between family history and the risk of getting diabetes and hypertension.…”