title: Hypertension and its associated risk factors in the kingdom of saudi arabia, 2013: a national survey.
abstract: Current data on hypertension in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are lacking. We conducted a national survey to inform decision-makers on the current magnitude of the epidemic. We measured systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 10,735 Saudis aged 15 years or older and interviewed them through a national multistage survey. We used multivariate logistic regressions to describe sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors of hypertensive, borderline hypertensive, and undiagnosed hypertensive Saudis. We found that 15.2% and 40.6% of Saudis were hypertensive or borderline hypertensive, respectively. Risk of hypertension increased among men, with age, obesity, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia. 57.8% of hypertensive Saudis were undiagnosed. These were more likely to be male, older, and diagnosed with diabetes. Among participants diagnosed with hypertension, 78.9% reported taking medication for their condition. About 45% of participants on medication for hypertension had their blood pressure controlled. The prevalence of hypertension and borderline hypertension is very high in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, control of hypertension is poor. With the majority of hypertensive Saudis being unaware of their condition, a national plan is needed to increase utilization of freely available screening, preventive, and medical services.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 Fifth Avenue, Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
authors.forename: Charbel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: El Bcheraoui
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Assadah, Al Murabba, Riyadh 12613, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ziad A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Memish
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 Fifth Avenue, Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
authors.forename: Marwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tuffaha
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 Fifth Avenue, Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
authors.forename: Farah
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7003-6944
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Daoud
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 Fifth Avenue, Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6222-9263
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 Fifth Avenue, Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0613-8022
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaber
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 Fifth Avenue, Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1697-2221
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mikhitarian
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Assadah, Al Murabba, Riyadh 12613, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Saeedi
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Assadah, Al Murabba, Riyadh 12613, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: AlMazroa
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 Fifth Avenue, Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98121, USA.
authors.forename: Ali H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mokdad
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Assadah, Al Murabba, Riyadh 12613, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdullah A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al Rabeeah