title: Prevalence, awareness and control of hypertension in Uganda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prevention and control of hypertension are critical in reducing morbidity and mortality attributable to cardiovascular diseases. Awareness of hypertension is a pre-condition for control and prevention. This study estimated the proportion of adults who were hypertensive, were aware of their hypertension and those that achieved adequate control.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a community based cross sectional survey among people ≥ 15 years in Buikwe and Mukono districts of Uganda. People had their blood pressure measured and were interviewed about their social-demographic characteristics. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg, or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg, or previous diagnosis of hypertension. Participants were classified as hypertensive aware if they reported that they had previously been informed by a health professional that they had hypertension. Control of hypertension among those aware was if systolic blood pressure was <140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure was <90 mmHg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age standardized prevalence of hypertension was 27.2% (95% CI 25.9-28.5) similar among females (27.7%) and males (26.4%). Prevalence increased linearly with age, and age effect was more marked among females. Among the hypertensive participants, awareness was 28.2% (95% CI 25.4-31.0) higher among females (37.0%) compared to males (12.4%). Only 9.4% (95% CI 7.5-11.1) of all hypertensive participants were controlled. Control was higher among females (13.2%) compared to males (2.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than a quarter of the adult population had hypertension but awareness and control was very low. Measures are needed to enhance control, awareness and prevention of hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. mgeof@musph.ac.ug
authors.forename: Geofrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Musinguzi
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nuwaha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult