Prevalence and Factors Associated with Prehypertension and Hypertension Among Adults: Baseline Findings of PURE Malaysia Cohort Study

Rosnah Ismail; Noor Hassim Ismail; Zaleha Md Isa; Azmi Mohd Tamil; Mohd Hasni Ja'afar; Nafiza Mat Nasir; Suraya Abdul-Razak; Najihah Zainol Abidin; Nurul Hafiza Ab Razak; Philip Joseph; Khairul Hazdi Yusof

doi:10.1016/j.ajmo.2023.100049

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Prehypertension and Hypertension Among Adults: Baseline Findings of PURE Malaysia Cohort Study

Am J Med Open. 2023 Jun 23:10:100049. doi: 10.1016/j.ajmo.2023.100049. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
² Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Selayang Campus, Selangor, Malaysia.
³ Cardio Vascular and Lungs Research Institute (CaVaLRI), Pusat Perubatan UiTM, Kampus Sungai Buloh, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁴ Institute of Pathology, Laboratory and Forensic Medicine (I-PPerForM), Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁵ Department of Diagnostic and Allied Health Science, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Management and Science University, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁶ Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

Abstract

Background: Although prehypertension and hypertension can be detected at the primary healthcare level and low-cost treatments can effectively control its complications, hypertension is still the world's leading preventable risk factor. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine its prevalence and its risk factors among Malaysian adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 7585 adults was performed covering the rural and urban areas. Respondents with systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 120-139 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 80-89 mmHg were categorized as prehypertensive, and hypertensive categorization was used for respondents with an SBP of ≥140 mmHg and/or DBP of ≥90 mmHg.

Results: Respondents reported to have prehypertension and hypertension were 40.7% and 38.0%, respectively. Those residing in a rural area, older age, male, family history of hypertension, and overweight or obese were associated with higher odds of prehypertension and hypertension. Unique to hypertension, the factors included low educational level (AOR: 1.349; 95% CI: 1.146, 1.588), unemployment (1.350; 1.16, 1.572), comorbidity of diabetes (1.474; 1.178, 1.844), and inadequate fruit consumption (1.253; 1.094, 1.436).

Conclusions: As the prehypertensive state may affect the prevalence of hypertension, proactive strategies are needed to increase early detection of the disease among specific group of those residing in a rural area, older age, male, family history of hypertension, and overweight or obese.

Keywords: Health screening; High blood pressure; Lifestyle modification; Obesity; Prehypertension.