Key result
No recent health worker visit is linked to ~220% higher odds of undiagnosed hypertension.
Why the study?
Hypertension is a major public health concern in Rwanda, but many affected adults remain undiagnosed, and the extent and determinants of this gap needed examination.
Cross-Sectional (n=1,223)
Yes
Odds Ratio: 3.2 (95% CI 2.33–4.51)
Absolute Event Rate: 55.8% vs 25.9%
p-value: p=<0.001
Nearly 43% of hypertensive adults in Rwanda are undiagnosed, highlighting a critical need to expand routine blood pressure screening, particularly among younger adults and men.
Undiagnosed hypertension is common in Rwanda; cross-sectional data leaves open optimal screening and causal determinants.
Hypertension remains a major public health concern in Rwanda, yet many affected adults remain undiagnosed. This study examined the extent and determinants of undiagnosed hypertension using data from the nationally representative 2021–2022 Rwanda STEPS Survey. A total of 1,223 adults aged 18–69 years who met clinical criteria for hypertension were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Survey-adjusted multivariable binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with being undiagnosed. Overall, 42.9% (95% CI: 39.1–46.9; n = 524 ) of hypertensive adults were unaware of their condition. Younger adults were significantly more likely to be undiagnosed, particularly those aged 18–24 years (AOR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.30–6.30, p = 0.009) and 25–34 years (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.11–3.20, p = 0.020). Men had more than double the odds of being undiagnosed compared with women (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.82–3.96, p < 0.001). Higher education was protective, while residents of the Western Province showed elevated odds (AOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.07–3.05, p = 0.026). Not visiting a health worker in the past year was the strongest predictor of remaining undiagnosed (AOR = 3.2, 95% CI: 2.33–4.51, p < 0.001). These findings highlight the need to expand routine blood pressure screening to younger adults and men, and to strengthen community-based detection efforts across Rwanda.
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Dushimimana et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Undiagnosed hypertension (n=1,223). Not visiting a health worker in the past 12 months vs. Visiting a health worker in the past 12 months was evaluated on Undiagnosed hypertension (AOR 3.2, 95% CI 2.33-4.51, p=<0.001). Not visiting a health worker in the past year was the strongest predictor of remaining undiagnosed for hypertension, increasing the odds by more than threefold (AOR 3.2) among Rwandan adults.
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