Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment and Control of Hypertension in Older People in Central Africa: The Epidemca Study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment and Control of Hypertension in Older People in Central Africa

T2 - The Epidemca Study

AU - Pilleron, Sophie

AU - Aboyans, Victor

AU - Mbelesso, Pascal

AU - Ndamba-Bandzouzi, Bébène

AU - Desormais, Ileana

AU - Lacroix, Philippe

AU - Preux, Pierre-Marie

AU - Guerchet, Maëlenn

AU - EPIDEMCA Group

PY - 2017/7

Y1 - 2017/7

N2 - Hypertension represents a major global health burden. While older individuals of African descent are at higher risk of hypertension in western countries, epidemiological data on hypertension in older native Africans are scarce. We assessed the prevalence and the level of awareness and control of hypertension among older adults in Central Africa. A total of 1990 individuals 65 years of age and older from the Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic participated into a cross-sectional population-based survey. Hypertension was defined by self-reporting of on-going treatment and/or systolic (SBP)/diastolic (DBP) blood pressures at rest being ≥140 and/or 90 mmHg. Controlled hypertension was defined as treated hypertension with SBP <140 mmHg and DBP <90 mmHg. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 61.1%. Among hypertensive people, 46.7% were aware of their condition and 17.3% were treated. Among the latter 23.8% had their hypertension controlled. Correlates of hypertension were increasing age and body mass index, living in the Republic of Congo, occupation other than employee, no tobacco use, sedentary lifestyle and ≥ 3 meals a day. Our findings indicate a need for the implementation of public health policies to reduce hypertension in older Africans, and to prevent the subsequent burden of cardiovascular diseases.

AB - Hypertension represents a major global health burden. While older individuals of African descent are at higher risk of hypertension in western countries, epidemiological data on hypertension in older native Africans are scarce. We assessed the prevalence and the level of awareness and control of hypertension among older adults in Central Africa. A total of 1990 individuals 65 years of age and older from the Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic participated into a cross-sectional population-based survey. Hypertension was defined by self-reporting of on-going treatment and/or systolic (SBP)/diastolic (DBP) blood pressures at rest being ≥140 and/or 90 mmHg. Controlled hypertension was defined as treated hypertension with SBP <140 mmHg and DBP <90 mmHg. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 61.1%. Among hypertensive people, 46.7% were aware of their condition and 17.3% were treated. Among the latter 23.8% had their hypertension controlled. Correlates of hypertension were increasing age and body mass index, living in the Republic of Congo, occupation other than employee, no tobacco use, sedentary lifestyle and ≥ 3 meals a day. Our findings indicate a need for the implementation of public health policies to reduce hypertension in older Africans, and to prevent the subsequent burden of cardiovascular diseases.

KW - Hypertension

KW - epidemiology

KW - elderly

KW - Central Africa

U2 - 10.1016/j.jash.2017.04.013

DO - 10.1016/j.jash.2017.04.013

M3 - Article

SN - 1933-1711

SP - 449

EP - 460

JO - ial board Journal of the American Society of Hypertension

JF - ial board Journal of the American Society of Hypertension

ER -