This Article Full Text Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ibrahim, M. M. Articles by Whelton, P. K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ibrahim, M. M. Articles by Whelton, P. K. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information High Blood Pressure

(Hypertension. 1995;26:886-890.)
© 1995 American Heart Association, Inc.

Articles

Hypertension Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control in Egypt

Results From the Egyptian National Hypertension Project (NHP)

M. Mohsen Ibrahim; Hussein Rizk; Lawrence J. Appel; Wafaa El Aroussy; Sherif Helmy; Yasser Sharaf; Zeinab Ashour; Hossam Kandil; Edward Roccella; Paul K. Whelton; for the NHP Investigative Team

From the Department of Cardiology, Cairo University (Egypt) (M.M.I., H.R., W.E.A., S.H., Y.S., Z.A., H.K.); the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins University (L.J.A., P.K.W.); Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (L.J.A., P.K.W.); Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health (L.J.A., P.K.W.), Baltimore; and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda (E.R.), Md.

Correspondence to M. Mohsen Ibrahim, MD, Professor of Cardiology, 1 El Sherifein St, Cairo 11111, Egypt.

Abstract This report from the Egyptian National Hypertension Project presents national estimates of the prevalence of hypertension and the extent to which high blood pressure is being detected, treated with medications, and controlled in the Egyptian population. The results are based on findings from a national probability survey of adults 25 years of age conducted in six Egyptian governorates. With the use of a stratified multistage probability design, 6733 people (85% response rate) were examined. Hypertension was defined as systolic pressure 140 mm Hg, and/or diastolic pressure 90 mm Hg, and/or reported treatment with one or more antihypertensive medications. Overall, the estimated prevalence of hypertension in Egypt was 26.3%. Hypertension prevalence increased progressively with age, from 7.8% in 25- to 34-year-olds to 56.6% in those 75 years or older. Hypertension was slightly more common in women than in men (26.9% versus 25.7%, respectively). Overall, 37.5% of hypertensive individuals were aware that they had high blood pressure, 23.9% were being treated with antihypertensive medications, and 8.0% were under control (systolic pressure <140 mm Hg and diastolic pressure <90 mm Hg). Hypertension prevalence as well as awareness, treatment, and control rates varied by region, with Cairo having the highest prevalence (31.0%) and the Coastal Region having the highest control rate (15.9%). Rates of awareness, treatment, and control tended to be lowest in areas of lower socioeconomic status. Our results indicate that hypertension is highly prevalent in Egypt and that the rates of hypertension awareness, treatment, and control are relatively low. These findings argue for a nationwide effort to prevent and control high blood pressure in Egypt in order to avert an epidemic of cardiovascular disease.

Key Words: Egypt • blood pressure • health services research • prevalence • data collection

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Muntner, D. Gu, X. Wu, X. Duan, G. Wenqi, P. K. Whelton, J. He, and for the InterASIA Collaborative Group Factors Associated With Hypertension Awareness, Treatment, and Control in a Representative Sample of the Chinese Population Hypertension, March 1, 2004; 43(3): 578 - 585. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Wuerzner, C. Hassler, and M. Burnier Difficult blood pressure control: watch out for non-compliance! Nephrol. Dial. Transplant., October 1, 2003; 18(10): 1969 - 1973. [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Gu, K. Reynolds, X. Wu, J. Chen, X. Duan, P. Muntner, G. Huang, R. F. Reynolds, S. Su, P. K. Whelton, et al. Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension in China Hypertension, December 1, 2002; 40(6): 920 - 927. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F.-H. Lu, S.-J. Tang, J.-S. Wu, Y.-C. Yang, and C.-J. Chang Hypertension in Elderly Persons: Its Prevalence and Associated Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Tainan City, Southern Taiwan J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., August 1, 2000; 55(8): 463M - 468. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. D. Mosley, L. J. Appel, Z. Ashour, J. Coresh, P. K. Whelton, and M. M. Ibrahim Relationship Between Skin Color and Blood Pressure in Egyptian Adults : Results From the National Hypertension Project Hypertension, August 1, 2000; 36(2): 296 - 302. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]