The Impact of Socioeconomic Inequalities on the Risk of Hypertension in Bangladesh: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Hypertension is a prevalent health issue in Bangladesh, impacting a significant portion of the population. This meta-analysis explored how social status inequalities impact hypertension risk in Bangladesh. We systematically searched various electronic databases and rigorously selected 12 studies for inclusion in the analyses. The I² statistic measured between study heterogeneity, and pooled effect estimates were obtained using the DerSimonian and Laird random effects model to address this variability. Publication bias was assessed through a funnel plot and Egger's test. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the robustness of the findings. All analyses were performed using STATA 17. The analyses indicated that females had a significantly higher risk of developing hypertension compared to males, with a pooled odds ratio (OR) of 1.15 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.27). Urban residents showed a pooled OR of 1.11 (95% CI: 1.03-1.19) compared to rural residents. The pooled ORs for hypertension were 1.02 (95% CI: 0.89-1.14) for primary education, 1.07 (95% CI: 0.94-1.21) for secondary education, and 1.25 (95% CI: 1.03-1.47) for higher secondary education, suggesting an increasing risk with higher education levels. Wealth status showed a pooled OR of 1.08 (95% CI: 0.87-1.29) for the poorer class, 1.13 (95% CI: 1.04-1.22) for the middle class, 1.38 (95% CI: 0.68-2.07) for the richer class, and 1.49 (95% CI: 0.97-2.00) for the richest class, indicating a greater risk of hypertension among wealthier individuals. Working individuals had a 39% lower risk of hypertension (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.43-0.80) compared to nonworking individuals.