Abstract
Background: Aim of this study was to describe the proportion of hypertension among Zanzibari of different age-groups and to detect possible correlates of this non-communicable disease.Methods: In 2013 a cross-sectional survey was conducted in Unguja Island, Zanzibar. A total of 235 randomly selected households, including 1,229 (2 to 95 years) eligible study participants, were examined. Association between objectively assessed obesity markers, salt intake and hypertension were investigated. Estimates of 24 h sodium and potassium excretion from a single morning spot urine specimen were calculated and used as surrogate for salt intake. The association between overweight/obesity and hypertension in different age-groups was assessed in multilevel logistic regression models. Further associations between salt intake and hypertension were analyzed.Results: Measures of systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as proportion of overweight/obesity and hypertension both increased with age. Overweight and obesity were significantly associated with hypertension in adults. Moreover, thinness seems to be associated with hypertension as well. We observed a significantly reduced chance of hypertension for higher urinary sodium-to-potassium compared to a lower ratio in children.Conclusion: Overweight/obesity and hypertension were highly prevalent (>47% of adults >40 years are overweight or obese and >69% are hypertensive in the same age group) in our sample. Weight status was confirmed as a correlate of high blood pressure in our sample from Zanzibar, Tanzania. To early and effectively prevent related severe cardiovascular outcomes, screening strategies but also monitoring strategies are required for this population.
Highlights
Hypertension is one of the leading causes of death worldwide [1, 2]
Proportion of individuals from urban and rural residence was comparable in the sample with an exception in female children (>9–≤ 19 years) and male young adults (>19–≤ 40 y.), where about 60% of participants lived in urban areas
High blood pressure among Zanzibaris is positively associated with Body Mass Index (BMI) and body composition in >19–95 year olds and is negatively associated with salt intake in >9–≤ 19 year olds
Summary
Hypertension is one of the leading causes of death worldwide [1, 2]. But in contrast to other cardiovascular risk factors, the risk for hypertension is modifiable [3]. While prevalence of hypertension in developed countries stabilizes around 35% or decreases, the prevalence rises in African countries. By 2025 almost 75% of hypertensive patients will be found in developing countries [5]. Today more than one third of the African adult population is hypertensive [2]. The risk for hypertension increases with age, in sub-Sahara Africa, even young adults suffer from it [9, 10]. Overweight and obesity have been found to be modifiable risk factors for hypertension [12]. Salt intake is known as another important risk factor for development of hypertension. Aim of this study was to describe the proportion of hypertension among Zanzibari of different age-groups and to detect possible correlates of this non-communicable disease
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