Prevalence of pre-hypertension and hypertension and its related risk factors among undergraduate students in a Tertiary institution, Ghana

Screening of hypertension, risks, knowledge/awareness in second-cycle schools in Ghana. A national cross-sectional study among students aged 12-22

In Ghana, the management of hypertension in primary health care is a cost-effective way of addressing premature deaths from vascular disorders that include hypertension. There is little or no evidence of large-scale studies on the prevalence, risk, and knowledge/awareness of hypertension in students aged 12-22 years in Ghana. In a cross-sectional study, blood pressure, anthropometric indices, and knowledge/awareness assessment of students at second-cycle schools were recorded from 2018 to 2020 in three regions of Ghana. Multistage cluster sampling was used in selecting regions and the schools. Prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension was categorized by the Joint National Committee 7, where appropriate, chi-square, scatter plots, and correlations were used in showing associations. A total of 3165 students comprising 1776 (56.1%) females and 1389 (43.9%) males participated in this study within three regions of Ghana. The minimum age was 12 years and the maximum age was 22 years. The mean age was 17.21 with standard deviation (SD: 1.59) years. A 95% confidence interval was set for estimations and a P value < 0.05 was set as significant. The prevalence rate of overall hypertension was 19.91% and elevated (prehypertension) was 26.07%. Risk indicators such as weight, BMI, waist circumference, physical activity, and form of the diet were positively correlated with hypertension. Among Ghanaian students currently in second-cycle educational institutions, 19.91% were hypertensive and 26.07% were prehypertensive. This may indicate a probable high prevalence of hypertension in the future adult population if measures are not taken to curb the associated risks.

Prevalence of prehypertension and its risk factors in midlife and late life: Indonesian family life survey 2014-2015

BACKGROUND

Early detection of prehypertension is important to prevent hypertension-related complications, such as cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease and all-cause mortality. Data regarding the prevalence of prehypertension among mid- and late-life population in Indonesia were lacking. It is crucial to obtain the prevalence data and identify the risk factors for prehypertension in Indonesia, which may differ from that of other countries.

METHODS

The cross-sectional analysis utilized multicenter data from Indonesian Family Life Survey-5 (IFLS-5) from 13 provinces in 2014-2015. We included all subjects at mid-and late-life (aged ≥40 years old) from IFLS-5 with complete blood pressure data and excluded those with prior diagnosis of hypertension. Prehypertension was defined as high-normal blood pressure according to International Society of Hypertension (ISH) 2020 guideline (systolic 130-139 mmHg and/or diastolic 85-89 mmHg). Sociodemographic factors, chronic medical conditions, physical activity, waist circumference and nutritional status were taken into account. Statistical analyses included bivariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

There were 5874 subjects included. The prevalence of prehypertension among Indonesian adults aged > 40 years old was 32.5%. Age ≥ 60 years (adjusted OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.41-2.01, p <  0.001), male sex (adjusted OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.45-1.88, p <  0.001), overweight (adjusted OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.22-1.70, p <  0.001), obesity (adjusted OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.48-2.12, p <  0.001), and raised waist circumference (adjusted OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.11-1.56, p = 0.002) were the significant risk factors associated with prehypertension. Prehypertension was inversely associated with being underweight (adjusted OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.59-0.93, p = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of prehypertension in Indonesian mid- and late-life populations is 32.5%. Age ≥ 60 years, male sex, overweight, obesity, and raised waist circumference are risk factors for prehypertension.

Prevalence, awareness and control of hypertension in Ghana: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is a major health problem in Ghana, being a leading cause of admissions and deaths in the country. In the context of a changing food and health policy environment, we undertook a systematic review (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020177174) and a meta-analysis of the prevalence of adult hypertension, and its awareness and control in Ghana.

METHODS

We searched major databases including PubMed, Embase as well as Google Scholar and online digital collections of public universities of Ghana to locate relevant published and unpublished community-based articles up till April 2020.

FINDINGS

Eighty-five articles involving 82,045 apparently-healthy subjects aged 15-100 years were analyzed. In individual studies, the prevalence of hypertension, defined in most cases as blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg, ranged from 2.8% to 67.5%. The pooled prevalence from the meta-analysis was 27.0% (95% CI 24.0%-30.0%), being twice as high in the coastal (28%, 95% CI: 24.0%-31.0%) and middle geo-ecological belts (29%, 95% CI: 25.0%-33.0%) as in the northern belt (13%, 95% CI: 7.0%-21.0%). The prevalence was similar by sex, urban-rural residence or peer-review status of the included studies. It did not appear to vary over the study year period 1976-2019. Of the subjects with hypertension, only 35% (95% CI: 29.0%-41.0%) were aware of it, 22% (95% CI: 16.0%-29.0%) were on treatment and 6.0% (95% CI: 3.0%-10.0%) had their blood pressure controlled. Sensitivity analyses corroborated the robust estimates. There was, however, high heterogeneity (I2 = 98.7%) across the studies which was partly explained by prevalent obesity in the subjects.

CONCLUSION

More than one in four adults in Ghana have hypertension. This high prevalence has persisted for decades and is similar in rural and urban populations. With the low awareness and poor control of hypertension, greater investments in cardiovascular health are required if Ghana is to meet the global target for hypertension.

Anthropometric indices and cardiometabolic risk factors in a Ghanaian adolescent population

OBJECTIVES

Adolescent overweight and obesity is a public health concern globally, especially in lower- and middle- income countries where there is an additional burden of undernutrition. The prevalence of adolescent overweight/2obesity has increased markedly over the past three decades. The transition in dietary habits coupled with reduced physical activity has been blamed for the increasing trend. Overweight/obesity in adolescence is complicated by cardiometabolic, respiratory, musculoskeletal and psychosocial disorders. Additionally, adolescent obesity is a predictor of future development of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. The burden of cardiometabolic risk factors associated with adolescent overweight/obesity in Ghana is lacking, the project, therefore, was undertaken to add to the existing knowledge.

METHODS

The study was undertaken in adolescent students of a tertiary institution in Ghana. Two hundred and one students consented to participate in the study. Questionnaires on sociodemographic characteristics, dietary and substance abuse habits were self-administered. Blood pressure, height, weight and waist circumference measures were performed and venous blood drawn for the determination of fasting serum total/LDL/HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Body mass indices were determined as the weight per square of their heights.

RESULTS

The prevalence of obesity was determined to be 15.81% generally, 27.71% in the females and 7.08% in the males. Diastolic blood pressure was the only cardiometabolic risk factor significantly associated with obesity in our study.

CONCLUSION

Overweight/obesity is common in Ghanaian adolescents, with the prevalence highest in the female population.