Hamid Hussain
Health Affairs Department, UAE
Title: Hypertension Prevalence and Patterns in Dubai Population
Biography:
Abstract:
Background: High Blood pressure affects more than a quarter of the global adult population. It is projected in year 2025 to increase by 24% in developed countries and 80% in developing countries. The increase is expected to be much higher than these projections. National surveys of prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control provide basis for assessing the burden of hypertension in the community.
Objectives: To determine prevalence of high blood pressure among different population segments of Dubai population and the patterns of distributions.
Methodology: Dubai Household Health Survey was conducted in 2014 as a Cross-sectional, multistage, stratified, Cluster survey. Houses were visited to obtain detailed information on the different health-related issues. According to Dubai Statistical Center, the total population of Dubai at the end of 2014 was 2327350 (males 1613175, females 714175) (UAE 212000, Expatriates 2115350). Individuals aged ≥18 years were investigated for the history hypertension. Related questions of the questionnaire were asked to 3716 persons. Data were entered to the computer using Excel sheet and analyzed using SPSS 21.
Results: The study showed that about 2.5% of males, 2.8 of female, and 2.5% of the total in the age group 18-59 years are diagnosed as hypertensive. When combined with elderly, 3.2% of males, 5.1% of females and 3.5% of the total are diagnosed as hypertensive. When it comes to nationality, the study showed that about 18.9% of total Emirati have diagnosed as hypertensive, 20.0% of males and 18.0% of females.
Conclusion: Almost one quarter of Dubai Emirati population have been diagnosed as having high blood pressure. One in each four individuals are hypertensive. This greatly puts them at risk of developing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality at long term. National screening, national registry, awareness, population-based interventions, policies and legislations are needed to be addressed as top priority.