Undiagnosed Hypertension and Its Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study among Adults in a Rural Municipality of Nepal
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Introduction:
Hypertension is a silent killer. Early detection of hypertension is crucial for effective management. Yet, the condition remains unnoticed until complications emerge, especially in resource limited setting.
Objective:
The main objective of this study was to assess prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and its associated factors among adults residing in Jwalamukhi Rural Municipality, Dhading, Bagmati Province.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among the individuals aged 18 years and above between November 10 and May 10, 2024, in a Rural Municipality of Dhading district, Nepal. A multistage sampling method was used to select 422 study participants. Data were collected using a structured, STEPwise questionnaire, entered into EpiData 3.1, and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20. Descriptive analysis and Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests was used to assess the factors associated with undiagnosed hypertension a. Predictors with p<0.05 were chosen for further multivariate analysis. Odds ratio was utilized to evaluate the strength of relationships (95% CI), where a p-value of <0.05 indicated statistical significance.
Results:
The Prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension was found to be 30.80% [95% CI: 26.4-35.5] where Male [AOR=2.2, 95% CI: 1.1-4.2], Salt consumption of more than 5 grams a day [AOR=3.1, 95% CI: 1.8-5.4], and blood pressure not measured regularly [AOR=5.5, 95% CI: 3.1-9.8] was associated with undiagnosed hypertension.
Conclusion:
This study revealed a high prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive and effective screening strategies to detect and manage hypertension in the broader population of Nepal.
