[Prevalence of hypertension in Guinean rural areas]

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence and awareness of HTA in Guinean rural populations with respect to age and gender.

Design and setting: Cross-sectional survey in rural Guinea: Köpèrè-Döfili (400 inhabitants) and Töbölön (900 inhabitants).

Participants: 188 subjects (81 in Köpèrè-Döfili and 107 in Töbölön), 15 years and older were visited in their homes between November 2000 and April 2001.

Methods: The blood pressures were measured with an electronic tensiometer "Philips HF305". Awareness of HTA and risk factors were determined by interviews. HTA was defined as mean SBP/DBP = 140/90 mmHg.

Results: Overall, 69% (56/81) in Köpèrè-Döfili and 27% (29/107) in Töbölön were hypertensive. Among these, only 2 (Köpèrè) and 6 patients (Töbölön) were aware of their condition. HTA was strongly gender dependent in Köpèrè where 98% (44/45) of the males were concerned. In Köpèrè-Döfili, the combined systolo-diastolic hypertension (SDH) was predominant (80%; 45/56) and was associated to the male gender (80%; 36/45). In the hypertensive population of Töbölön, the isolated PAD (DH) was mainly associated with the female group (47%, 8/17). The grade III HTA (PAS/PAD > or = 180/110 mmHg) concerned both gender (41%, 18/44 for males; 42%, 5/12 for females) in Köpèrè-Döfili and mainly the female group in Töbölön (29%, 5/17). Smoking was the most frequently associated risk factor in the studied population of Köpèrè-Döfili (70%) and Töbölön (45%). The smokers were predominantly female in Köpèrè-Döfili (89%, 32/36) or male in Töbölön (51%, 24/47). Among the smokers, the hypertensive individuals were 96% (24/25) of the males and 38% (12/32) of the females in Köpèrè, 29% (7/24) of the males and 38% (9/24) of the females in Töbölön.

Conclusion: Hypertension is highly prevalent in two Guinean rural localities where less than 5% of the studied population were aware of their conditions, suggesting the nationwide demand for preventing and controlling HTA in Guinea.