Prevalence and Characteristics of Hypertension Among People Aged 60 Years and Older in Guediawaye, Senegal: A Population-based Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Hypertension is a major determinant of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, particularly among older adults, and in sub-Saharan Africa its screening and control remain insufficient despite the ongoing epidemiological transition. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of hypertension among people aged 60 years and older living in the Dakar suburbs and to describe their sociodemographic and clinical profile and associated risk factors. We conducted a quantitative, descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study with prospective data collection between October 2022 and June 2023 in the department of Guediawaye. Participants aged 60 years and older were recruited using stratified and systematic sampling, and data were collected through a questionnaire and a standardised clinical examination. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, or current use of antihypertensive treatment, and analyses were performed using RStudio. A total of 1,815 participants aged 60 to 103 years were included, with a mean age of 69.79 years. The crude prevalence of hypertension was 83.4%, corresponding to 1,513 hypertensive participants, of whom 69.4% were women. More than half had a low socioeconomic status, which was associated with poor blood pressure control, and the main cardiovascular risk factors were physical inactivity (88.3%), overweight (30.9%), obesity (19.6%) and diabetes (19.4%). Overall, 39.1% of hypertensive participants were unaware of their diagnosis; among those with known hypertension, 80.5% were receiving treatment, yet only 17.3% of treated patients had controlled blood pressure, and mean blood pressure was 156.7/89.1 mmHg. The most frequent symptoms were dyspnoea, palpitations and chest pain. In conclusion, hypertension was highly prevalent among older adults in Guediawaye, with poor blood pressure control, and these findings support systematic screening, regular follow-up and improved access to treatment.