Guest Speakers: 
Dr Andrew Stokes & Kaitlyn Berry Boston University School of Public Health

Date: 10 February 2017  | Time:  12h30 – 14h00 |  Venues: Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town 

Using data from the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1 (2011-2012), this analysis evaluates the prevalence of hypertension and need for hypertension care. Hypertension was defined as a blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg or use of antihypertensive medication. To quantify unmet need for hypertension care, the hypertension category was decomposed into four mutually exclusive and exhaustive subcategories: 1) undiagnosed, 2) diagnosed but untreated, 3) treated but uncontrolled, and 4) treated and controlled. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to explore factors associated with hypertension prevalence and diagnosis. In adults ranging from 15 to 98, the age standardized mean values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 130.4 mmHg and 76.3 mmHg.

The age standardized prevalence of hypertension was 33.2%. Older individuals, those with high BMI, men, and people with a family history of hypertension had increased risks of hypertension. Among those with hypertension, 73.5% were undiagnosed, 2.4% were diagnosed but untreated, 14.3% were treated but uncontrolled, and 9.8% was controlled. Men, older individuals, and people with obesity (BMI>30 kg/m2) had increased risks of being undiagnosed after controlling for other factors. These analyses point to a significant unmet need for hypertension care; 90.2% of the hypertensive population was undiagnosed, untreated, or uncontrolled. Data from this study provide a benchmark for evaluating efforts to manage the rising burden of hypertension in South Africa.

Kindly RSVP by 8 February 2017 to Dr Zandile Mchiza  e-mail ZMchiza@hsrc.ac.za

The HSRC seminar series is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The views and opinions expressed therein  as well as findings and statements of the seminar series do not necessarily represent the views of DST.

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