Uncontrolled Hypertension in Uganda: A Comparative Cross‐Sectional Study

In a community survey, 4432 persons aged 15 years and older in two districts in Uganda were studied. Blood pressure was measured and predictors for subtypes of uncontrolled hypertension ( HTN ) were assessed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression modeling. Prevalence of uncontrolled HTN was 20.2% and the subgroups of isolated systolic HTN ( ISH ), isolated diastolic HTN ( IDH ), and systolic‐diastolic HTN ( SDH ) were 7.2%, 4.2%, and 8.8%, respectively. No difference was observed between the sexes. For all HTN subtypes, middle (35–49 years) and older age (50+) groups had a higher prevalence compared with younger subjects (15–34 years) (all P <.001). IDH prevalence in older age was not higher compared with younger age ( P =.417). After multivariate analysis, middle age predicted all subtypes of HTN and old age predicted ISH and SDH . Alcohol consumption predicted IDH and SDH . Uncontrolled HTN in this population increases in the order IDH , ISH, and SDH, with more than 1 in 5 having uncontrolled HTN .