Hypertension in Nassiryia City : extent and determinants of its control

Abstract EN

Uncontrolled hypertension is a major concern among hypertensive patients.

It may be caused by various factors such as inadequate knowledge and inappropriate attitude, unhealthy lifestyle, and ineffective treatment.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence and determinants of controlled hypertension status among adults in Nassiriyah city.

Design, Setting, and Participants: A cross sectional household survey was carried out in Thi-Qar Governorate, Southern Iraq, on 2148 adults (410 of them were known cases of hypertension) from two areas in Nassiriyah city, aged 18 years and above, recruited between 1st of November 2012 and 31stof October 2014 using multistage sampling.

Main Outcomes and Measures: Controlled hypertensive patient was defined as an individual with self-reported treated hypertension with blood pressure measurements of less than 140/90 mmHg.

Determinants were measured using a questionnaire -based interviewing.

Results: The overall prevalence of hypertension was 26.5% (19.1% were known hypertensives and 7.4% were unrecognized hypertensives).Of the recognized hypertensives, only 35.4% (95% CI 31.0%-39.8%) were with controlled blood pressure.

The uncontrolled hypertension subcategorized into those of isolated systolic and isolated diastolic blood pressure with a prevalence of 6.8% and 4.0% respectively.

Significant independent association was found between control of hypertension and age, occupation, BMI, educational level, feeling of irritability, family history of hypertension, physical inactivity, drug intake and type of drinking water.

Conclusion: The prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension in Thi-Qar Governorate was high.

This necessitates effective preventive and control measures.