Prevalence of hypertension and associated risk factors in Benin

Background: Hypertension is one of the main risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. There has been a lack of data on this risk factor in the general population in Benin. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension and identify the associated risk factors in Benin.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July to August 2008 in Benin's 12 departments. The questionnaire and anthropometric measurements of the World Health Organization STEPWISE survey were used. The sample included 6853 subjects 25-64 years of age, randomly selected by five-stage random sampling. Blood pressure was measured using standard procedures. Data was processed and analyzed using EPI DATA and STATA 9.2 software. Prevalence levels were compared using Pearson's chi(2) and means with the Student t-test. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis, taking the sampling method into account, was used to identify risk factors.

Results: The sample comprised 49.5% females, the 25- to 34-year-old age group was the largest, and the mean age was 42.7±12.4 years. The prevalence of hypertension was 27.9% [95% CI: 26.3-29.5%], 77.5% of the subjects were unaware of their high blood pressure, and 81.6% had not taken their drugs two weeks before the survey. Prevalence of known hypertension was 6.9%, prevalence of treated hypertension 4.8%, and prevalence of controlled hypertension 1.9%. Age and obesity were significantly associated with hypertension. Department and profession were not associated with hypertension.

Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of hypertension in the general population in Benin. Better management of this risk factor will contribute to reducing morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases.