Knowledge of hypertension and its therapy in lay people

Abstract

Hypertension is one of the non-communicable diseases that is becoming a global health problem. Hypertension  can be identified by systolic blood pressure  of 140 mmHg and diastolic 90 mmHg . Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to  complications such as stroke, ischemic heart disease, heart attack, heart failure,  kidney failure, blindness, etc. According to Basic Health Research  2018  ( Ris et  Kesehatan Dasar 2018/Ris kesdas 2018) the prevalence of hypertension for >18  years  old wa s 8.4%, and through measurements taken in health care facilities by  34.1%. Prevalence in the city was 34.4%, in the village was 33.7%, while according  to gender 31.3% f or  male and 36.9%  for  female. The study  aimed to  find out the  knowledge and awareness of laypeople on hypertension and its therapy. This was  a cross-sectional online study with 11 questions. Respondents were recruited from  social media groups. The  results showed 5 00 respondents (62.8 % female and  37.2  % male) involved in this study . The most  common  age range was 21-40 years (36.2  %),  followed by  41-55 years (38.2%) , and the least was 56-65 years old (18.4%). Seventy-two percent of respondents did not have hypertension, and 9% said they  did not know. Fifty-three percent of respondents knew about the value of high  blood pressure, and 89%  of the  respondents said hypertension should be treated  regularly. The most hypertension complications answered by respondents were  stroke (40%), heart attack (26%) , and heart failure (16%). Amlodipine was the  most mentioned by  the  respondents,  and  the second was ACE-inhibitor. However,  omeprazole and omega-3  were  also mentioned as anti-hypertension. Genetic s and  a  high salt diet were risk factors that many respondents chose. In  conclusi on, the  r espondents have a good understanding  of hypertension. Information related to  behaviour is needed to discontinue the increasing prevalence.