Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 8, 2026
Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
Public Health
Prabha Shrestha1,2, Victor Valcour3,4, Biraj Man Karmacharya1
1Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Bagmati, Nepal.
Insights
Uncontrolled hypertension is common in older adults in Nepal, affecting over half of participants. Factors like medication adherence and obesity were not significantly linked to blood pressure control in this study.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Health
- Public Health in Nepal
Background:
- Hypertension is prevalent among older adults in Nepal, with significant rates of poor control.
- Uncontrolled hypertension elevates risks for stroke, heart disease, and dementia.
- Medication adherence is suboptimal, impacting effective hypertension management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension in older adults in Dhulikhel Municipality, Nepal.
- To investigate the association between hypertension control and medication adherence, BMI, comorbidities, and living arrangements.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted with 101 hypertensive older adults (≥60 years).
- Medication adherence was assessed using the Hill Bone Medication Adherence Scale.
- Uncontrolled hypertension was defined as Systolic BP >140 mmHg or Diastolic BP >90 mmHg. Logistic regression was used for analysis.
Main Results:
- Over half (54%) of participants had uncontrolled hypertension.
- No significant associations were found between hypertension control and medication adherence, BMI, comorbidities, or living arrangements after adjusting for socio-demographic factors.
Conclusions:
- High rates of uncontrolled hypertension indicate challenges in management among older adults in Dhulikhel Municipality.
- Identified factors like medication adherence and obesity did not significantly correlate with hypertension control in this cohort.
- Further research is crucial to uncover factors influencing blood pressure control and reduce associated risks in Nepal.
Background:
Hypertension is common among older adults in Nepal, with poor control increasing the risk of stroke, heart disease, and dementia. Medication adherence is at 50%, and uncontrolled hypertension affects 31% to 67% of individuals. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension and its association with medication adherence, BMI, comorbidities, and living arrangements in older adults in Dhulikhel Municipality, Nepal.
Method:
We conducted a cross-sectional study among hypertensive older adults aged 60 years and above. Samples were randomly selected from the sampling frame of self-reported hypertension within the "Healthy City Initiative" data set. The Face to face interviews were conducted, and medication adherence was measured using the Hill Bone Medication Adherence Scale, scores ranged from 9 to 36, with higher scores indicating lower adherence. Systolic BP>140 mmHg and diastolic BP >90 mmHg representing uncontrolled hypertension. We included data from the first 101 participants enrolled in this interim analysis. We excluded participants with cognitive impairment, those who were unreachable, uninterested, or deceased. Logistic regression assessed the associations between hypertension control and the stated factors, adjusting for socio-demographic variables using Stata v13.
Result:
Over half of the participants had uncontrolled hypertension (54%). The mean medication adherence score was 10.6 (2.04). Most (51%) of participants were overweight or obese. After adjusting for socio-demographic variables including age, sex, educational status, ethnicity, and religion, no significant associations were found between hypertension control and medication adherence (p = 0.6), BMI (p = 0.8), presence of comorbidity (p = 0.7), or living arrangement (p = 0.3).
Conclusion:
The frequency of uncontrolled hypertension is high among hypertensive older adults in Dhulikhel Municipality, highlighting gaps in effective management. Despite moderate medication adherence and high obesity rates, these factors were not significantly linked to hypertension control. Further research is needed to identify other factors for improving blood pressure control and reducing cardiovascular and dementia risks in Nepal.
More Related Videos
09:33Visualizing Field Data Collection Procedures of Exposure and Biomarker Assessments for the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network Trial in India
Published on: December 23, 2022
07:20Dried Blood Spot Collection of Health Biomarkers to Maximize Participation in Population Studies
Published on: January 28, 2014
Related Concept Videos
01:30Primary Healthcare Services
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
01:26Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
In primary prevention, actions taken before disease onset prevent the disease from...
01:30Preventive Healthcare Services
01:26Principles of Disease Surveillance
01:17Healthcare Agencies II
Parish nursing is a growing specialty nursing profession that focuses on holistic healthcare, health promotion, and illness prevention. It blends professional nursing practice with a health ministry, focusing on health and healing within the context of a Christian community. Parish nurses serve as health educators, referral sources,...
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is...