Hypertension prevalence, awareness, and control in Arab countries: A systematic review. (30th September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tailakh, Ayman; Evangelista, Lorraine S.; Mentes, Janet C.; Pike, Nancy A.; Phillips, Linda R.; Morisky, Donald E.
• Is Part Of: Nursing & health sciences. Volume 16:Number 1(2014:Mar.)
• Page Start: 126
• Page End: 130
• Publication Date: 2013-09-30
• Subjects: Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Periodicals; 610.73
• DOI: 10.1111/nhs.12060
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1441-0745

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>One billion of the world's population has hypertension, resulting in four million deaths per year. Data on the prevalence of hypertension in the Arab world are very limited. This review summarizes existing knowledge regarding prevalence, awareness, and control of hypertension in Arab countries. The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and CINAHL databases were searched for publications on HTN among Arab people from 1980 to January 2011. Only 13 studies were identified in the literature from 10 Arab countries. The overall estimated prevalence of hypertension was 29.5% (<italic>n</italic> = 45 379), which indicates a higher prevalence of hypertension among Arabs compared to people from the USA (28%) and sub‐Saharan African (27.6%). Awareness of hypertension was reported for 46% of the studies and varied from 18% (Jordan) to 79.8% (Syria). The control rate varied from 56% (Tunisia) to 92% (Egypt and Syria). The prevalence of hypertension was found to increase with age, occurring more frequently in Arab women.</p> </abstract>