Prevalence and risk factors for hypertension among Bulawayo City Council employees, 2010

Abstract

Prevalence and risk factors for hypertension among Bulawayo City Council employees

Introduction: An increase in the number of employees with raised blood pressure during routine medical examinations from less than two in every ten to four in every ten during the third quarter compared to the first and second quarters of 2009 prompted an investigation on the prevalence of hypertension and risk factors among Bulawayo City Council employees.

Methods and Materials: Analytical cross-sectional study was carried out. Three hundred and two participants were selected by systematic random sampling from employee registers. Questionnaire adapted from World Health Organization STEPwise approach to Surveillance non communicable disease instrument was used to collect data on risk factors. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were taken as per World Health Organization STEP guidelines. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure of ≥140mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure of ≥90mmHg.

Results: Mean systolic BP was 134.1±18.6mmHg and mean diastolic BP was 83.3±19mmHg. Prevalence of hypertension was 38.4% (116). The prevalence of hypertension was higher in females than males. Prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension was 14.2% (43). Seventy three (80%) of hypertensive participants were on treatment but only 21 (39%) of them had well controlled BP. Independent risk factors for hypertension were being aged 40 years or older (AOR 5.95, 95% CI 3.29; 10.77), being obese (AOR 3.66, 95% CI 1.89; 7.06), current tobacco smoking (AOR 3.26, 95% CI 1.05; 10.10), family history of hypertension (AOR 2.87, 95% CI 1.56; 5.28) and being married (AOR 1.95, 95% CI 1.03; 3.67).

Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of both diagnosed and undiagnosed hypertension. Despite high percentage of treatment among hypertensive participants, majority were at risk of developing complications because of poor control. Health education on hypertension and setting up of a surveillance system for hypertension and its risk factors are necessary to reduce the burden of hypertension and related illnesses. Further studies on factors associated with obesity and poor control of blood pressure among hypertensive people on treatment are needed.

Key words: Prevalence, hypertension, risk factors, Bulawayo City employees, Zimbabwe