Prevalence of Hypertension, awareness, treatment, and blood pressure control in Sierra Leone: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundIn recent years, the prevalence of Hypertension (HTN) has increased in sub-Saharan countries. However, reports on the prevalence of HTN in Sierra Leone are limited. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the overall estimates of the prevalence of HTN in Sierra Leone. MethodA systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, African Journal Online and Google Scholar) was conducted by three independent investigators using keywords such as "hypertension", "prevalence", "blood pressure", and "Sierra Leone". A random-effects model was used to estimate the prevalence across studies. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using the Cochran Q test and I2 statistic, and publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and the Egger test. ResultsWe pooled the data from 15 studies (n=14,707) that met the inclusion criteria. The overall prevalence of HTN in Sierra Leone was 27.64% [95% CI = 27.45, 27.82], with significant heterogeneity observed among studies (I2 =99.82%, p-value < 0.001). The pooled prevalence of Hypertension among males was higher than that among females (25.11% [95% CI = 24.90-25.32], I2 =99.79%, p-value < 0.001) and 24.11% [95% CI = 23.92,24.31, I2 =99.67%, p-value < 0.001]). The prevalence of HTN among urban residents (29.76%) was almost twice that among their rural counterparts (15.77%). Of those with HTN, 37.21% were aware of their illness, 12.87% received treatment, and only 29.73% had blood pressure control. ConclusionMore than 1 in 4 adults aged [&ge;] 15 years are living with HTN in Sierra Leone, with a low awareness rate and even lower treatment and control rates. Our findings highlighted the need for robust and comprehensive hypertension prevention, treatment and control policies.