Undiagnosed hypertension in Croatia

Abstract

Aim To determine the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension in Croatia, and to assess its association with various demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and health care usage factors. Methods We used the data from European Health Interview Survey wave 3, conducted in Croatia in 2019. The representative sample consisted of 5461 individuals aged 15 years and older. The association of undiagnosed hypertension with various factors was assessed with simple and multiple logistic regression models. The factors that contribute to undiagnosed hypertension were identified by comparing undiagnosed hypertension with normotension in the first model and with diagnosed hypertension in the second model. Results In the multiple logistic regression model, women and older age groups had lower adjusted odds ratio (OR) for undiagnosed hypertension than men and the youngest age group. Respondents living in the Adriatic region had a higher adjusted OR for undiagnosed hypertension than those living in the Continental region. Respondents who did not consult their family doctor in the previous 12 months and those who did not have their blood pressure measured by a health professional in the previous 12 months had a higher adjusted OR for undiagnosed hypertension. Conclusion Undiagnosed hypertension was significantly associated with male sex, age from 35 to 74, overweight, lack of consultation with a family doctor, and living in the Adriatic region. The results of this study should be used to inform preventive public health measures and activities.

Factors associated with undiagnosed hypertension among Tongan adults: a cross-sectional study

“…Undiagnosed hypertension occurs when those who have hypertension have not been informed of the condition by a health professional [4][5][6]. It is a silent but deadly condition that can lead to serious health consequences, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and cognitive impairment [1].…”

Factors associated with undiagnosed hypertension amongst Tongan adults: a cross-sectional study

“…Undiagnosed hypertension occurs when those who have hypertension have not been informed of the condition by a health professional [4][5][6]. It is a silent but deadly condition that can lead to serious health consequences, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and cognitive impairment [1].…”

“…It is a silent but deadly condition that can lead to serious health consequences, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and cognitive impairment [1]. Despite the availability of effective treatments for hypertension, undiagnosed hypertension remains a major health concern due to its lack of symptoms and low awareness among the general public [4,7]. Hence, countries across the globe need to develop locally contextualized strategies to assess, monitor, and regulate the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension [1,8].…”

“…Factors associated with undiagnosed hypertension in previous studies include lifestyle factors such as eating habits, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking [4][5][6][7][8]. Additionally, access to health care and the availability of health insurance in the context of social economic status have also been linked to undiagnosed hypertension [10][11][12][13].…”

“…Additionally, access to health care and the availability of health insurance in the context of social economic status have also been linked to undiagnosed hypertension [10][11][12][13]. Some of the other associated factors include age, sex, educational level, and household income [4][5][6][7][8]10]. Most studies on undiagnosed hypertension have been conducted in high-income countries like Croatia [4], the United Kingdom [5], the United States [8], and France [10], although some studies have been done in low-middle income countries, including Indonesia [6], Fiji [7], Ethiopia [11], Nepal [12], and Peru [13].…”