Hypertension in Bo, Sierra Leone.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the prevalence of hypertension among adults in Bo, Sierra Leone.

DESIGN

Hypertension data were extracted from outpatient clinic records.

SETTING

Mercy Hospital in urban Bo, Sierra Leone.

PATIENTS

All nonpregnant outpatients aged -15 years seen at the outpatient clinic in 2009.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Prevalence of hypertension, defined as a systolic blood pressure > or = 140 mm Hg and/or a diastolic blood pressure > or = 90 mm Hg.

RESULTS

Data from 3944 individuals were analyzed (mean age 38.7 years). The overall prevalence of hypertension among those aged > or = 15 years was 25.2%, with an age-adjusted prevalence of 19.6%. The prevalence of hypertension for participants aged > or = 20 years was 27.1%, with an age-adjusted prevalence of 23.6%. There were no significant differences in blood pressure by sex. The prevalence of hypertension increased significantly with age for both males and females (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of hypertension in Sierra Leone is consistent with the rates of hypertension observed in other parts of West Africa.