Risk factors of pre-hypertension and hypertension among non-pregnant women of reproductive age in northeastern Tanzania: a community based cross-sectional study

Omari A. Msemo*, Christentze Schmiegelow, Birgitte B. Nielsen, Hannah Kousholt, Louise G. Grunnet, Dirk L. Christensen, John P.A. Lusingu, Sofie L. Møller, Reginald A. Kavishe, Daniel T.R. Minja, Ib C. Bygbjerg

*Corresponding author for this work
1 Citation (Scopus)
47 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Objectives: To determine risk factors of pre-hypertension and hypertension in a cohort of 1247 rural Tanzanian women before conception. Methods: Demographic and socioeconomic data, anthropometric measurements, past medical and obstetric history and other risk factors for pre-hypertension and hypertension were collected using a structured questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between anthropometric indices and other risk factors of pre-hypertension and hypertension. The predictive power of different anthropometric indicators for identification of pre-hypertension and hypertension patients was determined by Receiver Operating Characteristic curves (ROC). Results: The median (range) age was 28.0 (18–40) years. The age-standardised prevalences of pre-hypertension and hypertension were 37.2 (95% CI 34.0–40.6) and 8.5% (95%CI 6.7–10.8), respectively. Of hypertensive patients (n = 98), only 20 (20.4%) were aware of their condition. In multivariate analysis, increasing age, obesity and haemoglobin levels were significantly associated with pre-hypertension and hypertension. Conclusion: Despite a low prevalence of hypertension, over one third of the women had pre-hypertension. This poses a great challenge ahead as pre-hypertensive women may progress into hypertension as they grow older without appropriate interventions. Obesity was the single most important modifiable risk factor for pre-hypertension and hypertension.

Original languageEnglish
JournalTropical Medicine and International Health
Volume23
Issue number11
Pages (from-to)1176-1187
Number of pages12
ISSN1360-2276
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

Keywords

  • hypertension
  • Pre-hypertension
  • reproductive age
  • Tanzania
  • women

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