TITLE:
Prevalence, Awareness and Control of High Blood Pressure in a Semi-Urban Area of Cameroon: An Analysis of May Measurement Month 2019 Screening Results
AUTHORS:
Dieudonne Danwe, Sylvie Ndongo Amougou, Alida Tchamba Choumi, Christian Ngongang Ouankou, Lionel Armel Bala, Patrick Soume Adala, Daniel Lemogoum
KEYWORDS:
Prevalence, Awareness, High Blood Pressure, Semi-Urban, Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.6 No.12,
December
23,
2019
ABSTRACT: Background: High blood pressure (HBP) is a global health crisis. More than one billion people in the world suffer from HBP and most of them live in low and middle income countries where the prevalence is increasing. Un-awareness, low treatment and control rates are the main barriers to the fight against this disease and the associated cardiovascular disease risk. Aims: To highlight the importance of measuring blood pressure and identify and reduce the blood pressure (BP) of those who require an intervention to lower their BP according to current guidelines. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A HBP screening was organized in two market places and at the district hospital of a semi-urban area in Cameroon during three days—from the 28th to the 30th May 2019. We included all people aged at least 18 years and who accepted to take part to the study. We used a predesigned form and electronic blood pressure machines for the screening. HBP was defined as having a BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg or taking antihypertensive medications. All statistical analysis were done using IBM SPSS version 20.0. Results: We included 200 people in the study. Women were more represented in our sample (57.5%) and the median age was 40 years [30 - 51]. More than a third of the participants had not taken their BP in the past year and 16% of them had never measured their BP. HBP was detected in 49 (24.5%) people among whom 25 (51.0%) were aware of their condition. Among those who were aware they had HBP, 17 (68.0%) were taking antihypertensive medications and as a single drug regimen in most cases (64.7%). BP was controlled in 9/17 (52.9%) people. Conclusion: Nearly one quarter of people living in semi-urban area in Cameroon has HBP. We have found in this area a high rate of unawareness and undertreatment of HBP.