Magnitude and associated factors of hypertension in Addis Ababa public health facilities, Ethiopia

World health organization reported that non communicable diseases are the leading causes of death globally. Mainly cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes represent a leading threat to human health and development. These four diseases are the world’s biggest killers, causing an estimated 35 million deaths each year 60% of all deaths globally-with 80% in lowand middleincome countries.1 According to literature most people who live in urban are more affected by hypertension. These diseases are also more commonly affect the population who rarely eat fruit and vegetables than who frequently consume fruit and vegetables.2 Hypertension and diabetes are higher in males than women and among individuals who have high BMI and waist circumference.3 According to the study done in England the prevalence of hypertension was 31% and 28% among males and females respectively with increasing prevalence by the age of the population in both sexes.4 A large-scale prevalence study of hypertension in the elderly population of the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) reported prevalence of hypertension to be 69.9% of which 62.3 % had not been previously diagnosed this report can clearly show the case to be a large problem in the elderly population.5 In some African countries like Cameroon Community-based multicentre crosssectional study conducted by the year 2012 in major cities showed the overall prevalence of hypertension to be 47.5% which shows a higher prevalence like similar study done in Tunisia adolescents, prevalence of hypertension to be 35.1% [32.9-37.4] through a national crosssectional study.6 Cross-Sectional Surveys in Rural and Urban Communities of four Sub-Saharan Africa countries (Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania and Namibia) reported prevalence of hypertension ranging from 19.3% in rural Nigeria to 38% in urban Namibia.7 Hypertension is now a day becomes one of the common public health problems in Ethiopia. According to the different study conducted in Ethiopia the prevalence of hypertension increased as the age of the individuals increased. For example according study done in Dabat district and Gondor town the overall prevalence of hypertension was 27.9% with increased the odd of hypertension occurrence by 6% as the age of the participants increased by one year. In this study the prevalence of hypertension was higher (29.3%) in women than men (23.3%). 8 Cross-sectional studies done among adults in Addis Ababa City showed the ageadjusted prevalence of high blood pressure or reported use of antihypertensive medication to be 31.5% among males and 28.9% among females. In this study, age and BMI were significantly associated with mean systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in males and females, while educational level was inversely associated with both blood pressures in males. Current daily smoking was associated with hypertensive, while level of total physical activity was inversely associated with SBP in males.9 A cross sectional survey conducted in Sidama Zone showed the prevalence of hypertension to be 9.9%. Being over 30 years, having a family history of hypertension, BMI ≥25 kg/m2 and excess meat consumption where found to be significantly associated with hypertension whereas tea drinking was found as a protective factor for hypertension.10 The overall prevalence of hypertension was found to be 28.3% in a community based cross