Hypertension and obesity in police forces households in Khartoum, Sudan: A pilot report - part of the "Police Forces Hypertension, Diabetes, Renal Insufficiency, and Thyroid Derangements (HyDRIT) Study", Sudan)
Hypertension and obesity in police forces households in Khartoum, Sudan: A pilot report - part of the "Police Forces Hypertension, Diabetes, Renal Insufficiency, and Thyroid Derangements (HyDRIT) Study", Sudan)
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2008-01
Authors
Hasan Abu-Aisha
Elwaleed AM Elhassan
Ammar Hassan Khamis
Adil Abu-Elmaali
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases could be prevented by the effective control of hypertension
(HTN). Excess weight is associated with increased rate of death from all-causes. Nationwide data for the status
of hypertension and excess weight in the Sudanese population are not available. All the consenting 426
inhabitants of two police housing-complexes were included. Blood pressure (BP), anthropometric measurements
as well as blood samples were taken. Standard interviewing procedures were used to record medical history,
socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics. The data was analysed through univariate and multivariate
regressions. The overall prevalence of hypertension (based on two BP measurements) was 27%. Less than a
third (29.8%) of the hypertensive subjects were aware of their disease. Pharmacotherapy among those aware of
their disease was prescribed in 94.1%. However, 59.4% of them were compliant with their prescribed medicines
and 28.1% attained effective BP control. Prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in older
individuals (> 50 years of age), overweight (body mass index, (BMI) > 25) and those who had better education
(> 10 years of schooling). The cumulative prevalence of overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2) was 30% while that for
obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) was 19.2%. Abdominal obesity was observed in 19.5% of males and 46.2% of females.
Overweight subjects were more than twice likely to be hypertensive than their non-overweight counterparts
(odds ratio 2.33 [1.49-3.64]). In the sample examined, the prevalence of hypertension and excess weight seemed
to be comparable to other countries; this makes them a public health priority.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Abu-Aisha, H., Elhassan, E.A., Khamis, A.H. and Abu-Elmaali, A., 2008. Hypertension and obesity in police forces households in Khartoum, Sudan: a pilot report-part of the" Police Forces Hypertension, Diabetes, Renal Insufficiency, and Thyroid Derangements (HyDRIT) Study", Sudan.