Prevalence, treatment and control of hypertension among the elderly people in a rural community of Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is a worldwide challenge. The prevalence of hypertension among the adult (≥ 15 years) and the elderly people (260 years) in Bangladesh are 13.5% and 65% respectively. Objective: To measure the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors among the people over 50 years in a rural community of Puthia Upazila, Rajshahi. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive type of study conducted among the rural people over fifty years in different villages of Puthia Upazila, Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Total 412 participants over 50 years were included in this study. Data were collected with the help of semi-structured interview schedule by face to face interview. Blood pressure of the respondents was measured by sphygmomanometer and stethoscope. Data were analyzed in computer using SPSS program. Association between variables were conducted applying Chi-square. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors of hypertension. Results: The prevalence of hypertension among the people over 50 years in the rural community was 44.4%, among them, more than 43% did not received treatment. Only 15.3% of the hypertensive patients controlled their blood pressure. Female, lower monthly family income and diabetes mellitus were identified as important risk factors of hypertension. Conclusion: Country-specific guidelines of hypertension based on local competing health care priorities and economic realities is needed to formulated in Bangladesh. Opportunistic screening at individual level during routine visits in different health care centers in order to identifying patients at high risk of cardiovascular discases should be encourage in Bangladesh.