Abstract

A major public health problem in most countries of the world, hypertension remains a hidden killer. This study determines the epidemio-clinical profile of hypertension, among patients at the Sino-Gabonese Friendship Hospital in Franceville, Central Africa. Patents and method: This is a prospective, cross-sectional study, conducted from August 1 to October 11, 2023. The study data are the results of blood pressure measurements using a tensiometer and responses to a structured questionnaire sent to consenting patients in the general medicine department of the Sino-Gabonese Friendship Hospital in Franceville. Hypertension was defined for any patient with systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg. The study population consisted of patients aged 16 and over, living in and around Franceville, South East Gabon. Data were entered into a Microsoft Excel 2013 spreadsheet and exported to R software version 4.0.3. To identify sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics independently associated with hypertension, odds ratios were calculated within a 95% confidence interval, and results were considered significant at p≤ 0.05. Results: A total of 120 individuals answered the questionnaire correctly, and participated in this study. With a mean age of 43.23 ± 15.2 years, women outnumbered men, indicating a sex ratio (F/H) of 0.67. In the present study, the prevalence of hypertension was 35% (95% CI: [0.27- 0.44]), (n=42), compared with 65% (n=78) who were negative. Univariate analysis of this prevalence according to the sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics of study patients, indicated that being between 60 - 69 years of age (Odds Ratio = 0.14; 95% CI [1.23-15.44], p=0.015*), not active (Odds Ratio = 7.65; 95% CI [3.27-17.95] p≤ 0. 000*), being overweight (Odds Ratio = 3.38; 95% CI [1.41 - 8.11] p=0.005*), or obese (Odds Ratio = 4.35; 95% CI [1.29 ;13] p=0.011), was significantly associated with the prevalence of hypertension. Conclusion : These results, which suggest the emergence of hypertension in the study population, may raise awareness of the health habits of the population of Franceville, in south-eastern Gabon.

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