Burden of hypertension in Ghana – Analysis of awareness and screening campaign in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

• Published in: JRSM cardiovascular disease 2022-01, Vol.11, p.20480040221075521-20480040221075521
• Main Authors: Tannor, Elliot Koranteng, Nyarko, Obed Ofori, Adu-Boakye, Yaw, Owusu Konadu, Saabea, Opoku, Gilda, Ankobea-Kokroe, Frank, Opare Addo, Mercy, Amuzu, Evans Xorse, Ansah, Gilgal Justice, Appiah-Boateng, Kate, Ansong, Daniel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Blood pressure; Hypertension; Original; Regression analysis
• ISSN: 2048-0040; 2048-0040
• DOI: 10.1177/20480040221075521

Objectives Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular mortality globally and in Ghana. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global awareness and screening campaign initiated by the International Society of Hypertension. Methods Participants were recruited by opportunist sampling in the Ashanti region of Ghana. The blood pressures of participants were measured three times and the mean of the last two readings was used for the analysis. Simple and multiple logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of hypertension. Results The MMM 2018 awareness and screening campaign enrolled 5054 participants with a mean age of 39.4 ± 14.7 years. There were 2553 (50.6%) males, 987 (20.1%) of respondents had never checked their blood pressure and 676 (13.9%) had a prior history of hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension was 37.4%. We found that 589(66.8%) of 822 respondents with high blood pressure did not have a history of hypertension. Respondents with a known history of hypertension on medication were 442 (65.9%) and 219(68.0%) of 322 respondents on medication had uncontrolled hypertension. The predictors of high blood pressure in a multiple logistic regression were increasing age (OR = 1.05 CI 1.05–1.06, p