Hypertension among outpatients at a general hospital in South Angola: Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in patients attending an outpatient clinic at a general hospital in Huambo, South Angola. Methods: A total of 265 subjects aged 18 years and older were included. Evaluation included complete interview and blood pressure measurement using a validated automatic device. Results: The prevalence rates of hypertension and prehypertension were 38.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 32.83%-44.90%) and 30.20% (95% CI: 24.52%-36.22%), respectively. Hypertension was associated with age (> 35 years; odds ratio [OR] = 10.09, 95% CI: 5.46-18.66, P < 0.01) and female gender (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.08-3.05, P = 0.02). Among total hypertensive patients, 54.9% were aware of their diagnosis, 28.43% were in treatment, and 7.84% had controlled blood pressure. Lack of awareness was significantly higher in younger (age ≤ 37 years; OR = 3.28, 95% CI: 1.13-9.49, P = 0.02). Conclusion: This study revealed a high prevalence of hypertension, with low awareness, treatment, and control rates. Greater efforts are necessary to overcome these challenges.