Abstract:

Background: Hypertension is pathological elevation of blood pressure and is a major risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is of increasing public health importance in low and middle income countries (1-3). It is a silent killer as very rarely any symptom can be seen in its early stages until a severe medical crisis takes place like heart attack, stroke, or chronic kidney diseases (4, 5). With rising prevalence and death rates now observed more in young and active adults (6). Around 7.5 million deaths 12.8% of the total of all annual deaths worldwide occur due to hypertension (7).

The goals of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with hypertension among adults attending outpatient services at Mawenzi Regional Hospital Kilimanjaro.

Methodology: Hospital based cross sectional study convenient sampling was used where by 310 clients older than 18 years were invited to participate in this study. A structured questionnaire was used to record demographic information, clinical background, behavioral measurement and biomedical measurements. Blood pressure was measured at the time of the interview using a digital sphygmomanometer.

Result: Among 310 respondents 59 (19.0%) were found to have hypertension, however 251 (81.0%) were found to have normal blood pressure. Age above 45 years (p=0.009), married population (p=0.029), smoking, (p=0.006), alcohol use (p=0.009), physical inactive, (p=0.006) high salt diet (p=0.02) and obesity (p=0.008), all these were significant risk factors for hypertension.

Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension at Mawenzi is substantially high 19%. Smoking, alcohol use, obesity, age above 45 years, married population, low education level, physical inactive and high salt diet showed significant association with the risk of developing hypertension.

Recommendation: To strengthening the diagnosis practices of hypertension in health facilities in order to detect early and give prompt treatment. Also community-based preventive approach like life styles modifications include stop smoking, moderation of alcohol use, be physical active and reduce amount of salt might bring a substantial change in tackling the burned effectively.