Prevalence of Undiagnosed Hypertension Among Adult Displaced Individuals in Baidoa Camps, Somalia

IntroductionHypertension may be prevalent among internally displaced people who typically do not engage in sedentary activities throughout the day. However, the prevalence of hypertension in this population remains poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and associated factors among adults living in internally displaced people (IDP) camps around Baidoa. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted, recruiting displaced persons in camps aged 18 years or older without a prior diagnosis of hypertension or current use of anti-hypertensive therapy. A standardized questionnaire was administered, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Hypertension was defined as two consistent measurements of systolic blood pressure [&ge;]140mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure [&ge;]90mmHg, taken 4 hours apart. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors independently associated with undiagnosed hypertension. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. ResultsA total of 240 participants were enrolled, with a mean age of 39.4 {+/-} 12.8 years. The majority were female (83.3%, n=199) and urban dwellers (88.3%, n=212). The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension was 16.7% (n=40). Of the participants with hypertension, 40% (n=16) were younger than 40 years. Factors associated with undiagnosed hypertension included age >50 years (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 7.0, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.9 to 25.6, p=0.003), male gender (aOR: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.5 to 11.1, p=0.005), tobacco consumption (aOR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.1 to 6.0, p=0.021), and being overweight (aOR: 3.6, 95% CI: 1.5 to 8.8, p=0.005). ConclusionApproximately one in six adult IDPs living in camps around Baidoa had undiagnosed hypertension, with a disproportionately high burden among those younger than 40 years. Further larger multi-centric studies are warranted to validate these findings.