Prevalence of hypertension and associated risk factors in older adults in Kurdistan, Iraq

Hypertension is an important public health problem and one of the leading risk factors for morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases. To determine the prevalence of hypertension in a population of older adults in Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq and identify the risk factors associated with hypertension. A community-based cross-sectional survey based on household visits was carried out from April to June 2017. The study involved 1480 adults selected through a multistage sampling method. We used a specially designed questionnaire to collect sociodemographic and clinical data from the participants through direct interview and measurement of blood pressure. Of the 1480 study participants, 809 (54.7%) had hypertension. Of these 809 hypertensive patients, 375 (46.4%) were known cases of hypertension and 434 (53.6%) were diagnosed during the survey. The multivariate analysis identified age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08-1.11], male sex (OR = 2.72, 95% CI = 1.91-3.87), unemployment (OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.33-2.56), and obesity (OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.51-3.21) as significant factors associated with hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension in Erbil City is high, with a high prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension. Treatment compliance was high but access to drugs was primarily from private pharmacies. This high prevalence of hypertension in Erbil City necessitates effective preventive and control measures, including comprehensive health education and screening programmes.