Association of region with prevalent hypertension among adults (≥18 years of age) before and after sequential adjustments for demographics and socio-economic status.

<p>Association of region with prevalent hypertension among adults (≥18 years of age) before and after sequential adjustments for demographics and socio-economic status.</p

Age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of pre-hypertension and hypertension by geographic region and age category.

<p>Age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of pre-hypertension and hypertension by geographic region and age category.</p

Geographic differences in the prevalence of hypertension in Uganda: Results of a national epidemiological study

<div><p>Background</p><p>Hypertension accounts for more than 212 million global disability-adjusted life-years, and more than 15 million in sub-Saharan Africa. Identifying factors underlying the escalating burden of hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa may inform delivery of targeted public health interventions.</p><p>Methods</p><p>As part of the cross-sectional nationally representative Uganda National Asthma Survey conducted in 2016, we measured blood pressure (BP) in the general population across five regions of Uganda. We defined hypertension as systolic BP ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg, or on-going use of medications for the purpose of lowering BP among adults (≥18 years of age); pre-hypertension as systolic BP between 120 and 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP bteween 80 and 90 mmHg among adolescents and adults (≥12 years of age).</p><p>Findings</p><p>Of 3416 participants who met inclusion criteria, 38.9% were male, and mean age ± SD was 33.8 ± 16.9 years. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of hypertension was 31.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 30.2 to 32.8). The adjusted prevalence of hypertension was highest in the Central Region (34.3%; 95% CI 32.6 to 36.0), and it was comparable to that in the West and East Regions. However, compared with the Central Region, hypertension was significantly less prevalent in the North (22.0%; 95 CI 19.4 to 24.6) and West Nile Regions (24.1%; 95% CI 22.0 to 26.3). Adjustment for demographic characteristics (occupation, monthly income, and educational attainment) of participants did not account for the significantly lower prevalence of hypertension in the North and West Nile Regions. The prevalence of pre-hypertension was 38.8% (95% CI 37.7 to 39.8), and it was highly prevalent among young adults (21–40 years of age: 42.8%; 95% CI 41.2–44.5%) in all regions.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Hypertension is starkly prevalent in Uganda, and numerous more people, including young adults are at increased risk. The burden of hypertension is highest in the Central, Western, and Eastern regions of the country; demographic characteristics did not fully account for the disparate regional burden of hypertension. Future studies should explore the potential additional impact of epidemiological shifts, including diet and lifestyle changes, on the development of hypertension.</p></div

Socio-demographic characteristics of participants (≥12 years of age) in the Uganda National Asthma survey, stratified by geographic region.

<p>Socio-demographic characteristics of participants (≥12 years of age) in the Uganda National Asthma survey, stratified by geographic region.</p

Predicted probabilities of being normotensive (left, upper: BP <120/80 mmHg), pre-hypertensive (right, upper: BP ≥120/80 but <140/90 mmHg), or hypertensive (left, lower: BP ≥140/90 mmHg) in five regions of Uganda according to age, years.

<p>Predicted probabilities of being normotensive (left, upper: BP <120/80 mmHg), pre-hypertensive (right, upper: BP ≥120/80 but <140/90 mmHg), or hypertensive (left, lower: BP ≥140/90 mmHg) in five regions of Uganda according to age, years.</p

Age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of hypertension among adults (≥18 years of age) in Uganda by geographical region.

<p>Age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of hypertension among adults (≥18 years of age) in Uganda by geographical region.</p

Association between BMI of people with TB and the same in their household members.

Association between BMI of people with TB and the same in their household members.</p

Search strategy.

Tuberculosis (TB) and non-communicable diseases (NCD) share predisposing risk factors. TB-associated NCD might cluster within households affected with TB requiring shared prevention and care strategies. We conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis of national TB prevalence surveys to determine whether NCD cluster in members of households with TB. We identified eligible surveys that reported at least one NCD or NCD risk factor through the archive maintained by the World Health Organization and searching in Medline and Embase from 1 January 2000 to 10 August 2021, which was updated on 23 March 2023. We compared the prevalence of NCD and their risk factors between people who do not have TB living in households with at least one person with TB (members of households with TB), and members of households without TB. We included 16 surveys (n = 740,815) from Asia and Africa. In a multivariable model adjusted for age and gender, the odds of smoking was higher among members of households with TB (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.23; 95% CI: 1.11–1.38), compared with members of households without TB. The analysis did not find a significant difference in the prevalence of alcohol drinking, diabetes, hypertension, or BMI between members of households with and without TB. Studies evaluating household-wide interventions for smoking to reduce its dual impact on TB and NCD may be warranted. Systematically screening for NCD using objective diagnostic methods is needed to understand the actual burden of NCD and inform comprehensive interventions.</div

PRISMA-IPD checklist of items to include when reporting a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data (IPD).

PRISMA-IPD checklist of items to include when reporting a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data (IPD).</p

Supplementary methods.

Tuberculosis (TB) and non-communicable diseases (NCD) share predisposing risk factors. TB-associated NCD might cluster within households affected with TB requiring shared prevention and care strategies. We conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis of national TB prevalence surveys to determine whether NCD cluster in members of households with TB. We identified eligible surveys that reported at least one NCD or NCD risk factor through the archive maintained by the World Health Organization and searching in Medline and Embase from 1 January 2000 to 10 August 2021, which was updated on 23 March 2023. We compared the prevalence of NCD and their risk factors between people who do not have TB living in households with at least one person with TB (members of households with TB), and members of households without TB. We included 16 surveys (n = 740,815) from Asia and Africa. In a multivariable model adjusted for age and gender, the odds of smoking was higher among members of households with TB (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.23; 95% CI: 1.11–1.38), compared with members of households without TB. The analysis did not find a significant difference in the prevalence of alcohol drinking, diabetes, hypertension, or BMI between members of households with and without TB. Studies evaluating household-wide interventions for smoking to reduce its dual impact on TB and NCD may be warranted. Systematically screening for NCD using objective diagnostic methods is needed to understand the actual burden of NCD and inform comprehensive interventions.</div