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. 2017 Jul 10;18(1):2.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4536-9.

A population-based national estimate of the prevalence and risk factors associated with hypertension in Rwanda: implications for prevention and control

Marie-Rosette Nahimana  1 , Alypio Nyandwi  2 , Marie Aimee Muhimpundu  3 , Olushayo Olu  4 , Jeanine Umutesi Condo  3 , Andre Rusanganwa  4 , Jean Baptiste Koama  5 , Candide Tran Ngoc  4 , Jean Bosco Gasherebuka  4 , Martin O Ota  6 , Joseph C Okeibunor  6
Affiliations

A population-based national estimate of the prevalence and risk factors associated with hypertension in Rwanda: implications for prevention and control

Marie-Rosette Nahimana et al. BMC Public Health. .

Erratum in

  • Erratum to: BMC Public Health, Vol. 18.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] BMC Public Health. 2017 Sep 22;17(1):736. doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4709-6. BMC Public Health. 2017. PMID: 28938882 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases and a growing public health problem in many developed and developing countries. However, population-based data to inform policy development are scarce in Rwanda. This nationally representative study aimed to determine population-based estimates of the prevalence and risk factors associated with hypertension in Rwanda.

Methods: We conducted secondary epidemiological analysis of data collected from a cross-sectional population-based study to assess the risk factors for NCDs using the WHO STEPwise approach to Surveillance of non-communicable diseases (STEPS). Adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence interval were used to establish association between hypertension, socio-demographic characteristics and health risk behaviors.

Results: Of the 7116 study participants, 62.8% were females and 38.2% were males. The mean age of study participants was 35.3 years (SD 12.5). The overall prevalence of hypertension was 15.3% (16.4% for males and 14.4% for females). Twenty two percent of hypertensive participants were previously diagnosed. A logistic regression model revealed that age (AOR: 8.02, 95% CI: 5.63-11.42, p < 0.001), living in semi-urban area (AOR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.01-1.67, p = 0.040) alcohol consumption (AOR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.05-1.44, p = 0.009) and, raised BMI (AOR: 3.93, 95% CI: 2.54-6.08, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with hypertension. The risk of having hypertension was 2 times higher among obese respondents (AOR: 3.93, 95% CI: 2.54-6.08, p-value < 0.001) compared to those with normal BMI (AOR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.30-2.32, p-value < 0.001). Females (AOR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.63-0.88, p < 0.001) and students (AOR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.25-0.80, p = 0.007) were less likely to be hypertensive.

Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the prevalence of hypertension is high in Rwanda, suggesting the need for prevention and control interventions aimed at decreasing the incidence taking into consideration the risk factors documented in this and other similar studies.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Hypertension; Non-communicable diseases; Risk factors; Rwanda.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors’ information

MN, CTN, OO and AR are epidemiologists and members of staff of WHO Rwanda and were directly responsible for the planning, implementation, monitoring and supervision of the organization’s NCD activities in Rwanda. AN is a Medical Education and Research Officer in Ministry of Health, MAM is Head of Non-Communicable Diseases program in Rwanda, JBK was HMIS Advisor in CDC Rwanda, JBG is health promotion program officer in WHO Rwanda, JUC is the Director General of Rwanda Biomedical Center. MOO and JCO are staff members of the WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The Rwanda National Ethic Committee and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided ethical clearance to conduct the survey; informed written consent was obtained from each study participant prior to interview for steps 1 and 2. To participate in step 3 (biochemical measurement), a separate consent form was obtained from respondents. Participants who were identified as being at high risk of developing, or with, advanced chronic conditions were referred for a follow-up clinical examination. We sought and obtained the administrative clearance from the Ministry of health and WHO (WHO e-Pub no: ePub-IP-00075109-EC) to publish the results.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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