Race, geographical location and other risk factors for hypertension: South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011/12

• Published in: SSM - population health 2021-12, Vol.16, p.100986, Article 100986
• Main Authors: Reddy, Sasiragha Priscilla, Mbewu, Anthony David, Williams, David R., Harriman, Nigel Walsh, Sewpaul, Ronel, Morgan, Justin Winston, Sifunda, Sibusiso, Manyaapelo, Thabang, Mabaso, Musawenkosi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: African; Formal/informal locality; Hypertension; Psychological distress; Race; Social stressors; South Africa; Stress; Urban/rural settings
• ISSN: 2352-8273; 2352-8273
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100986

Hypertension is the leading cardiovascular disease in Africa. It is increasing in prevalence due partly to the epidemiological transition that African countries, including South Africa, are undergoing. This epidemiological transition is characterised by a nutrition transition andurbanisation; resulting in behavioural, environmental and stress changes that are subject to racial and geographic divides. The South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES) examined the association of traditional risk factors; and less traditional risk factors such as race, geographical location, social stressors and psychological distress with hypertension in a national population-based sample of South Africans. Data were analysed on individuals ≥15 years who underwent a physical examination in the SANHANES (n = 7443). Hypertension was defined by blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg or self-reported hypertension medication usage. Stepwise regression examined the association of demographic, socioeconomic, life stressors, and health risk factors with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and hypertension. Secondly, the risk factor associations and geographical location effects were investigated separately for the African race group. Increasing age (AOR = 1.069, p