In 1,211,386 participants across 76 LMICs, socioeconomic status showed generally small differences in hypertension prevalence, with substantial prevalence even in the least educated and wealthy groups.
Cross-Sectional (n=1,211,386)
Yes
BACKGROUND Effective equity-focused health policy for hypertension in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) requires an understanding of the condition's current socioeconomic gradients and how these are likely to change in the future as countries develop economically. OBJECTIVES This cross-sectional study aimed to determine how hypertension prevalence in LMICs varies by individuals' education and household wealth, and how these socioeconomic gradients in hypertension prevalence are associated with a country's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. METHODS We pooled nationally representative household survey data from 76 LMICs. We disaggregated hypertension prevalence by education and household wealth quintile, and used regression analyses to adjust for age and sex. RESULTS We included 1,211,386 participants in the analysis. Pooling across all countries, hypertension prevalence tended to be similar between education groups and household wealth quintiles. The only world region with a clear positive association of hypertension with education or household wealth quintile was Southeast Asia. Countries with a lower GDP per capita had, on average, a more positive association of hypertension with education and household wealth quintile than countries with a higher GDP per capita, especially in rural areas and among men. CONCLUSIONS Differences in hypertension prevalence between socioeconomic groups were generally small, with even the least educated and least wealthy groups having a substantial hypertension prevalence. Our cross-sectional interaction analyses of GDP per capita with the socioeconomic gradients of hypertension suggest that hypertension may increasingly affect adults in the lowest socioeconomic groups as LMICs develop economically.
“Achieving equity in health requires an understanding of which health conditions are most prevalent among the most socioeconomically disadvantaged segments of society. This is especially important for hypertension because those with low socioeconomic status are generally least able to access high-quality health care for strokes and heart attacks and are typically most dependent on their full health to earn a living.”
Kirschbaum et al. (Mon,) conducted a cross-sectional in Hypertension (n=1,211,386). Socioeconomic status (education and household wealth) vs. Different socioeconomic groups was evaluated on Hypertension prevalence by education and household wealth quintile, and its association with GDP per capita. In 1,211,386 participants across 76 LMICs, socioeconomic status showed generally small differences in hypertension prevalence, with substantial prevalence even in the least educated and wealthy groups.