Awareness status and associated risk factors of hypertension among adult patients attending Yala sub-county hospital, Siaya county, Kenya

Abstract

Hypertension is a major public health problem that affects approximately 26% of adult population worldwide. It is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, stroke and renal failure, and causes about 7.1 million deaths per year worldwide. The prevalence of hypertension is suggested to be increasing worldwide, particularly in developing countries due to nutritional transition and westernization. Moreover, lack of awareness regarding the disease status increases incidence of complications and mortality. Although modifiable through lifestyle interventions and medical management, hypertension accounts for approximately 64% of stroke cases in Kenya. There is little information regarding awareness of hypertension status and risk factors among patients seeking healthcare from public hospitals in Kenya, including Yala sub county hospital. The study aimed to determine the awareness of hypertension status and risk factors among adult patients attending Yala sub-county hospital, in Siaya County. The study used hospital-based cross-sectional design. A sample of 393 participants aged 18 years and above presenting at the out -patient clinic of the hospital for treatment between February and March 2015, were selected using systematic sampling with a random start. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were taken for all participants. A field-tested, structured questionnaire was used to collect information on demographics, awareness and risk factors for hypertension. Descriptive statistics was used to calculate percentage of participants who were classified to be aware of their hypertension status, with the total hypertensive participants as the denominator. Logistic regression analysis was used to test the association between significant variables and hypertension. All tests were two-tailed and a p-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Of the 145 (36.9%) study participants who were hypertensive, 60 (41.4%) were not aware of their hypertension status. Binary logistic regression showed that age above 30 years (OR=12.0; 95% CI=2.7 to 52.3), marital status (Widowed OR= 16; 95% CI=6.34 to 40.52), smoking, BMI (overweight OR 2.98; 95% CI= 1.85 to 4.79 Obese OR= 4.23; 95% CI= 2.15 to 8.30 p <0.001), waist circumference (OR= 2.39; 95% CI= 1.57 to 3.64 p< 0.001) were independent predictors of hypertension. However, increasing level of education was inversely related to hypertension. In conclusion, the high proportion unaware of their hypertension status could lead to delay in treatment initiation which ultimately increases complications arising from the disease. All the identified risk factors except age are modifiable through lifestyle change interventions. Therefore there is need for the health care workers to hold regular health education to increase awareness of hypertension status and promote healthy