%0 Journal Article
%T Screening for Hypertension in People Aged 50 Years and Older in Byumba Sector: A Community-Based Approach
%A Marie Louise Umwangange
%J Open Access Library Journal
%V 3
%N 12
%P 1-10
%@ 2333-9721
%D 2016
%I Open Access Library
%R 10.4236/oalib.1103213
%X <div style="text-align:justify;">
	<span style="line-height:1.5;">Background: Hypertension is taken as a global public
health crisis and it is named as a ¡°silent killer¡± since
it is mostly asymptomatic with many life threatening complications such as
stroke, coronary artery disease, heart attack¡­ Hypertension as the cause of
morbidity and mortality in older adults, it is one of the conditions that could
be mostly prevented and treated. In developing countries, most people with
raised blood pressure are unaware of their condition. Purpose: The purpose of
this study was to detect high blood pressure in people aged 50 years and older
who are not diagnosed for hypertension before, and appr</span><span style="line-height:1.5;">oximate the prevalence
of hypertension in older adults who are apparently healthy and determine if
there is age and gender differences for people who have high blood pressure
after screening. Methods: The study design was quantitative analytical
cross-sectional study, and the sample of 149 people
aged 50 years and older was obtained using convenient sampling method
including 116 women and 33 men. A sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope for
auscultatory method was used to measure blood pressure in the community. Results:
The results showed that among 149 screened people, 38.3% (= 57) had hypertension. 40.5%
of women were newly diagnosed with high blood pressure during screening, and
30.3% of men were newly diagnosed with high blood pressure. However, the
difference between women and men in terms of the prevalence of newly diagnosed
hypertension is not statistically significant [CI: 95% X</span><sup>2</sup><span style="line-height:1.5;"> (1, N = 149) = 1.13, p = 0.28]. The Pearson Chi
square test shows no statistical significance in difference of high blood
pressure among different age groups X</span><sup>2</sup><span style="line-height:1.5;"> (2, N = 149) = 1.12, p = 0.57. Conclusion: More
than one third of the screened people aged fifty years and older were found
hypertensive and they were not aware of the disease before screening. The early
detection of hypertension through community screening is very important because
it raises people¡¯s awareness of their blood pressure and be able to seek care
as soon as possible before the complications occur.</span>
</div>
%K Screening
%K Hypertension
%K Old People
%K Byumba
%U http://www.oalib.com/paper/5276858