Prevalence of and Risk factors associated with hypertension: a community based- cross sectional study in Ndorwa West Health Sub District, Kabale district, southwestern Uganda

Abstract

Background Globally, one billion people have hypertension (HT), it kills 9.4 million people annually. Prevalence is higher in developed countries and is rapidly rising in developing countries, and approximately 31.5% of Ugandans have HT. Objective This study aimed to determine the prevalence of and risk factors associated with HT among adults aged 25–65 years in the Ndorwa West HSD, Kabale District. Methods A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted with 381 adults aged 25–65 years in Ndorwa West HSD, using a modified WHO STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance. Chi-square tests with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) and p-values less than 0.05, were used to assess the association between hypertension and associated factors. Odds Ratios (OR) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) estimated the risk. Results The prevalence of HT and pre-HT in Ndorwa HSD was 28.3% and 45.7%, respectively. 61.8% (n = 243) were females and 36.1% (n = 142) were males with a mean age of 48.18 years and standard deviation of 11.5 years. The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 25.92 kg/m² and the standard deviation was 3.69 kg/m². Only Age (p = 0.010, OR = 1.81(1.14–2.87) and level of education (p = 0.04) were significantly associated with hypertension. age ≥ 45years increased the likelihood of developing HT by 0.81 times. Behavioral factors associated with HT included awareness of the BP status (p = 0.010, OR = 0.53(CI: 0.32–0.87),use of fats/oil for cooking (p = 0.02, OR = 1.73 (CI: 1.09–2.75)), reduced salt intake (p = 0.001, OR = 0.075(CI:0.01–0.55)), and overweight and obesity (BMI) level ( p = 0.010, OR = 1.77 (CI 1.12–2.80)). BMI ≥ 25kg/m² increased the likelihood of developing HT by 0.77 times. Conclusion The prevalence of HT and pre-HT in this rapidly transitioning rural–urban population was high. The risk of CVDs is about 16 folds higher among pre-HT compared to no HT and doubles for every 10-mmHg increase in BP. Hence, the considerable risk and burden of HT and related CVDs that require a dire need to adopt strategies to prevent and control hypertension based on the identified associated risk factors in Ndorwa HSD.