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Factors associated with hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and control among participants in the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS)

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 30, pages 112–119 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the factors associated with hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control, in the elderly populations of the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS). Approximately 200 men and 200 women aged 65–74 years were recruited at each site (n=1995) during IMIAS’ 2012 baseline survey at five cities: Kingston (Canada), Saint-Hyacinthe (Canada), Tirana (Albania), Manizales (Colombia) and Natal (Brazil). Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were taken at participants’ homes. Hypertension prevalence ranged from 53.4% in Saint-Hyacinthe to 83.5% in Tirana. Diabetes and obesity were identified as risk factors in all cities. More than two-thirds of hypertensive participants were aware of their condition (from 67.3% in Saint-Hyacinthe to 85.4% in Tirana); women were more aware than men. Awareness was positively associated with diabetes in Kingston, Manizales and Natal. Though most of those aware of their hypertensive condition were being treated pharmacologically, associations between awareness and physical activity and refraining from smoking were weak. Control among treated hypertensive participants was low, especially in Tirana and Natal. Diabetes and physical inactivity were associated with poor hypertension control. Hypertension is common in the older populations of IMIAS. Diabetes is strongly associated with hypertension prevalence, awareness and lack of control of hypertension. The fact that awareness is not strongly associated with healthy behaviours suggests that antihypertensive medication is not accompanied by non-pharmacological therapies. Improved health behaviours could strengthen hypertension control. Efforts should be made to increase men’s awareness of hypertension. Hypertension control in diabetic patients is a challenge.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to all older adults who have given their time and confidence to this research. We thank our universities and institutes for providing continuous support and also thank our funding sources: the Canadian Institutes of Health (and the Institut de Santé Publique de l'Université de Montréal (IRSPUM)).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. École de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal (ESPUM), Montréal, Quebec, Canada

    B Doulougou & M V Zunzunegui

  2. Département biomédical et santé publique, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

    B Doulougou

  3. Research Group on Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Caldas, Manizales, Colombia

    F Gomez

  4. Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

    B Alvarado

  5. Department of Physiotherapy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil

    R O Guerra

  6. National Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania

    A Ylli

  7. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Division of Gerontology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    J Guralnik

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  1. B Doulougou
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  2. F Gomez
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  3. B Alvarado
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  4. R O Guerra
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Correspondence to B Doulougou.

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Doulougou, B., Gomez, F., Alvarado, B. et al. Factors associated with hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and control among participants in the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS). J Hum Hypertens 30, 112–119 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2015.30

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2015.30

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