Hypertension among Rural Population in Four States: Sudan 2012

BACKGROUND Hypertension is emerging as an alarming public-health problem causes organ damage. OBJECTIVES To identify prevalence of hypertension and predictor factors among rural population in four states in Sudan. METHODS A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in sixteen rural areas in Sudan during April 2012. A total of 3020 adult were interviewed using structured questionnaire and blood pressure was measured before and after the interview. Hypertension was taken as ≥140 mmHg and ≥90 mmHg for systole and diastole respectively. ANALYSIS Descriptive statistic was presented; Sex and mean of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were tested using ANOVA for individuals on antihypertensive medication. Predictor factors to hypertension were tested by logistic regression. RESULTS Prevalence of hypertension among rural population was 15.8%. Overall means of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 128.6 ± 17.7 and 81.5 ± 11.6 respectively while the means among hypertensive individuals was 154.74 ±14.4 and 97.98±8.4 respectively Known hypertensive individuals were 20.1%; out of whom 71.7% were hypertensive and 22.4% have Target Organ Damage. Those on anti-hypertensive medications were 76.4% and normotensive were 55.1%. Individuals having both diabetes and hypertension were 3.3% and 80.2% were hypertensive. Log regression model showed age, smoking, diabetes and family hypertension were predictors of hypertension by 3.6%, 34.9%, 49.7% and 56.8% respectively (P-value < 0.05). CONCLUSION Prevalence of hypertension among rural Sudan was 15.8%. Family history was the strongest predictor of hypertension.