Nutrition and the rising burden of hypertension in Bangladesh: Prevalence, prevention and treatment

Abstract

A major contributor to early cardiovascular disease and mortality, hypertension accounts for 13% of fatalities worldwide, with many instances taking place in low- and middle-income nations. The prevalence, management, and risk factors for hypertension in Bangladeshi adults were evaluated in this study using data from 12,108 people between the ages of 18 and 95 who participated in the 2017–2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. Systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, or current usage of antihypertensive medication were considered indicators of hypertension. Direct standardization was used to estimate age-standardized prevalence, and logistic regression and chi-square tests were used to identify risk factors. Almost 28.1% of people had hypertension (11.6% of males and 16.5% of women), and older age, female sex, and greater BMI were all independently linked to the condition. Although it affects approximately one in four people, treatment coverage is still insufficient. Reducing the rising prevalence of hypertension in Bangladesh requires bolstering prevention, detection, and management measures.