Key result
Health service utilization, obesity, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia reduced the odds of undiagnosed hypertension, which was present in 55.9% of adults with elevated blood pressure.
Why the study?
Undiagnosed hypertension is a major public health threat associated with premature death, prompting examination of how health service utilization factors relate to undiagnosed hypertension in middle-aged and older adults with elevated blood pressure in Malaysia.
What are the factors associated with undiagnosed hypertension among middle-aged and older adults with elevated blood pressure in Malaysia?
Cross-Sectional (n=2,838)
What are the factors associated with undiagnosed hypertension among middle-aged and older adults with elevated blood pressure in Malaysia?
A high proportion of adults with elevated blood pressure in Malaysia have undiagnosed hypertension, particularly those who are middle-aged or perceive themselves as healthy, highlighting the need for community screening.
High undiagnosed hypertension burden signals detection gaps in Malaysia; leaves open causal roles of health service factors pending longitudinal studies.
Undiagnosed hypertension is a major public health threat due to its association with premature death. This study examined the association between factors of health service utilization with undiagnosed hypertension among middle-aged (40-59 years) and older adults (≥60 years) with elevated blood pressure in Malaysia. A cross-sectional analysis of 2838 adults from the Malaysia Ageing and Retirement Survey Wave-1 revealed an undiagnosed hypertension proportion of 55.9%, higher in middle-aged (63.8%) than older adults (45.5%). Obesity, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and regular medical check-ups reduced the odds, while perceived good health increased the odds of undiagnosed hypertension in both age groups. Ethnicity, smoking status, and recent headaches also influenced undiagnosed hypertension in age-specific patterns. Overall, health service utilization emerged as a significant factor of undiagnosed hypertension in both age groups. Targeted health education and regular community hypertension screenings are crucial, particularly for low-risk or seemingly healthy adults, to mitigate the burden of undiagnosed hypertension.
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Choo et al. (2025) conducted a cross-sectional in Elevated blood pressure (n=2,838). Health service utilization was evaluated on Undiagnosed hypertension. Health service utilization, obesity, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia reduced the odds of undiagnosed hypertension, which was present in 55.9% of adults with elevated blood pressure.
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