1. Hypertension Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control in Selected LMIC Communities

VILMA IRAZOLA; ADOLFO RUBINSTEIN

Global Heart

Elsevier

Año: 2016

Background: Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide. Theprevalence of this public health problem is increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in bothurban and rural communities.Objective: The aim of this study was to examine hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and controlin adults 35 to 74 years of age from urban and rural communities in LMICs in Africa, Asia, and South America.Methods: The authors analyzed data from 7 population-based cross-sectional studies in selected communitiesin 9 LMICs that were conducted between 2008 and 2013. Age- and sex-standardized prevalence rates of prehypertensionand hypertension were calculated. The prevalence rates of awareness, treatment, and control ofhypertension were estimated overall and by subgroups of age, sex, and educational level.Results: In selected communities, age- and sex-standardized prevalence rates of hypertension among men andwomen 35 to 74 years of age were 49.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 42.3% to 57.4%) in Kenya, 54.9%(95% CI: 51.3% to 58.4%) in South Africa, 52.5% (95% CI: 50.1% to 54.8%) in China, 32.5% (95% CI:31.7% to 33.3%) in India, 42.3% (95% CI: 40.4% to 44.2%) in Pakistan, 45.4% (95% CI: 43.6% to 47.2%) inArgentina, 39.9% (95% CI: 37.8% to 42.1%) in Chile, 19.2% (95% CI: 17.8% to 20.5%) in Peru, and 44.1%(95% CI: 41.6% to 46.6%) in Uruguay. The proportion of awareness varied from 33.5% in India to 69.0% inPeru, the proportion of treatment among those who were aware of their hypertension varied from 70.8% inSouth Africa to 93.3% in Pakistan, and the proportion of blood pressure control varied from 5.3% in China to45.9% in Peru.Conclusions: The prevalence of hypertension varies widely in different communities. The rates of awareness,treatment, and control also differ in different settings. There is a clear need to focus on increasing hypertensionawareness and control in LMICs.