title: Determinants of hypertension in a young adult Ugandan population in epidemiological transition-the MEPI-CVD survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High blood pressure is the principal risk factor for stroke, heart failure and kidney failure in the young population in Africa. Control of hypertension is associated with a larger reduction in morbidity and mortality in younger populations compared with the elderly; however, blood pressure control efforts in the young are hampered by scarcity of data on prevalence and factors influencing awareness, treatment and control of hypertension. We aimed to describe the prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension among young adults in a peri-urban district of Uganda and the factors associated with occurrence of hypertension in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted between August, 2012 and May 2013 in Wakiso district, a suburban district that that encircles Kampala, Uganda's capital city. We collected data on socio-demographic characteristics and hypertension status using a modified STEPs questionnaire from 3685 subjects aged 18-40 years selected by multistage cluster sampling. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were performed using standardized protocols. Fasting blood sugar and HIV status were determined using a venous blood sample. Association between hypertension status and various biosocial factors was assessed using logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of hypertension was 15% (95% CI 14.2 - 19.6) and 40% were pre-hypertensive. Among the 553 hypertensive participants, 76 (13.7%) were aware of their diagnosis and all these participants had initiated therapy with target blood pressure control attained in 20% of treated subjects. Hypertension was significantly associated with the older age-group, male sex and obesity. There was a significantly lower prevalence of hypertension among participants with HIV OR 0.6 (95% CI 0.4-0.8, P = 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a high prevalence of high blood pressure in this young periurban population of Uganda with sub-optimal diagnosis and control. There is previously undocumented high rate of treatment, a unique finding that may be exploited to drive efforts to control hypertension. Specific programs for early diagnosis and treatment of hypertension among the young should be developed to improve control of hypertension. The relationship between HIV infection and blood pressure requires further clarification by longitudinal studies.
authors: Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. jkkayima@gmail.com.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Kayima
authors: Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. jnankabirwa@yahoo.co.uk.
authors: Joaniter
authors: J
authors: Nankabirwa
authors: Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. ssinabulyaisaac@gmail.com.
authors: Isaac
authors: I
authors: Sinabulya
authors: Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. nakibuukajm@yahoo.com.
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Nakibuuka
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland, Cleveland, OH, USA. xiaofeng.zhu@case.edu.
authors: Xiaofeng
authors: X
authors: Zhu
authors: Clinical Hypertension Program, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA. Mahboob.Rahman@uhhospitals.org.
authors: Mahboob
authors: M
authors: Rahman
authors: Harrington Heart and Vascular Institute, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA. Chris.Longenecker@uhhospitals.org.
authors: Christopher T
authors: CT
authors: Longenecker
authors: Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. akatamba@yahoo.com.
authors: Achilles
authors: A
authors: Katamba
authors: Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. hmk@chs.mak.ac.ug.
authors: Harriet
authors: H
authors: Mayanja-Kizza
authors: Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. mkamya@infocom.co.ug.
authors: Moses R
authors: MR
authors: Kamya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D058246:Prehypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult