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High prevalence, low awareness, treatment and control rates of hypertension in Guinea: results from a population-based STEPS survey

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 30, pages 237–244 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Hypertension is a major and fast-growing public health problem in Africa. We determined the prevalence of hypertension and assessed the levels of awareness, treatment and control in Guinea. A cross-sectional study based on a stratified cluster random sampling was conducted. In all, 2491 adults (1351 women) aged 15–64 years were selected and screened during September–December 2009. Hypertension (systolic (and/or diastolic) blood pressure ⩾140 (90) mm Hg or use of antihypertensive medications) and diabetes mellitus (fasting capillary glucose ⩾110 mg dl−1 or use of antidiabetic medications) were determined. Logistic regressions were used to investigate the determinants of hypertension. The mean body mass index was 22.4 kg m−2 (s.d.=4.5). The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was, respectively, 29.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 29.8–30.0) and 3.5% (95%CI 3.4–3.5). The prevalence of hypertension was 29.4% (29.3–29.5) in men and 30.4% (30.4–30.6) in women. The prevalence was 62.5% in the 44–64 years age group. Overall, 75.8% of hypertensive participants were undetected before the survey and 34.9% of those aware of their hypertensive status were receiving treatment, of whom 16.3% were at target control levels. Age, education, diabetes and obesity were the main factors associated with hypertension. There was a high prevalence of hypertension among the adults in Guinea, but with low awareness, treatment and control rates. Urgent response is needed in the form of integrated and comprehensive action targeting major non-communicable diseases in the country.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Guinean Ministry of Health and by the World Health Organization. We acknowledge technical support from the Surveillance, Non-Communicable Disease Cluster and The World Health Organization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital, Conakry, Guinea

    A Camara & N M Baldé

  2. Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Conakry, Guinea

    A Camara

  3. National Program of Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Public Health, Conakry, Guinea

    N M Baldé & M D Baldé

  4. Central Laboratory, University Hospital, Conakry, Guinea

    M Diakité

  5. Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Conakry, Guinea

    D Sylla, E H Baldé & M D Baldé

  6. Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council & University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    A P Kengne

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  1. A Camara
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Correspondence to A Camara.

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Camara, A., Baldé, N., Diakité, M. et al. High prevalence, low awareness, treatment and control rates of hypertension in Guinea: results from a population-based STEPS survey. J Hum Hypertens 30, 237–244 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2015.92

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