title: Hypertension in the adult Omani population: predictors for unawareness and uncontrolled hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension is a significant predictor for cardiovascular diseases and is the most important preventable or modifiable cause of morbidity and mortality from these diseases. Undiagnosed cases of hypertension and poor control are important factors in controlling hypertension worldwide, including Oman.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify the important risk factors and predictors of the state of unawareness of the presence of hypertension, as well as the risk factors for poor control of blood pressure, among hypertensive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from Oman World Health Survey (OWHS), 2008, were used in this study. The OWHS adopted a multistage stratified cluster sampling to select study participants. An interview questionnaire was used to collect data related to risk factors. Other parameters included blood pressure, anthropometric and biochemical measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of hypertension in Oman was estimated to be 41.5%. Of those who were hypertensive, three-quarters of them (75.7%) were unaware of being hypertensive and 65.5% of them had inadequately controlled hypertension. Male sex, higher wealth, and paying fewer visits to health facilities were found associated with high proportions of unawareness and high proportion of uncontrolled hypertension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study highlights high levels of unawareness of being hypertensive and high proportion of uncontrolled hypertension in Oman that need to be considered when developing health policies and strategies. Intersectorial collaborative and innovative strategies that focus on improving awareness, detection, and control of hypertension should be considered, especially with attention to young adults and men.
authors.affiliation: aMinistry of Health, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman bDepartment of Community, Environmental, and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mahmoud A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abd El-Aty
authors.forename: Fatma A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Meky
authors.forename: Magdi M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Morsi
authors.forename: Jawad A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Al-Lawati
authors.forename: Medhat K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: El Sayed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009850:Oman / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult