Prevalence and associated risk factors of hypertension in care homes of Makawanpur district, Nepal

Mahesh Rijal; Sushant Luitel; Prapti Ghimire; Aashish Guragain; Abishek Jha; Paras Pokhrel; Prinshu Dahal; Janak Kumar Thapa

doi:10.18203/issn.2454-2156.IntJSciRep20263966

Authors

Mahesh Rijal Little Buddha College of Health Science, Purbanchal University, Nepal
Sushant Luitel Little Buddha College of Health Science, Purbanchal University, Nepal; Nepal Public Health Research and Development Center, Kathmandu, Nepal
Prapti Ghimire Little Buddha College of Health Science, Purbanchal University, Nepal
Aashish Guragain Save the Children, Biratnagar, Nepal
Abishek Jha Little Buddha College of Health Science, Purbanchal University, Nepal
Paras Pokhrel Little Buddha College of Health Science, Purbanchal University, Nepal
Prinshu Dahal Little Buddha College of Health Science, Purbanchal University, Nepal
Janak Kumar Thapa Little Buddha College of Health Science, Purbanchal University, Nepal; Nepal Public Health Research and Development Center, Kathmandu, Nepal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-2156.IntJSciRep20263966

Keywords:

Hypertension Prevalence, Non-communicable diseases, Associated Risk Factors, Care Homes, Hetauda, Nepal

Abstract

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasingly burdensome. Hypertension stands out as a major NCD responsible for numerous deaths and disabilities in Nepal. Various factors, socio-demographic, socio-economic, and behavioral, affect hypertension. This study aims to determine the prevalence of hypertension and identify its associated risk factors among residents of care homes in Makawanpur district.

Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted to gather data from residents in four care homes in Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan, Makawanpur district, Nepal. The care homes were selected using a census approach. Data were collected from each institution as a sample, totaling 139 individuals. A structured questionnaire, based on the NCD STEPS survey, was used along with Kobo-Toolbox for data collection. After collection, data were cleaned, sorted, coded, and decoded for analysis with SPSS software.

Results: In 139 care home residents in Makawanpur district (median age of 75 years), 51.1% of the participants had hypertension. The history of smoking was strongly associated with developing high blood pressure (58.4%; p=0.03), as well as the family history of hypertension (68.6%; p<0.005), and the presence of anxious or stressful (or mental pressure) symptoms (60.5%; p=0.01). The participants who were physically active also had higher rates of having hypertension (58.7%).

Conclusions: Hypertension was highly prevalent (51.1%) among elderly care home residents in Makawanpur. Smoking history, family history of hypertension, and psychological stress were significantly associated with hypertension.

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