Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

LIVE: Thursday 2nd May 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)

Quality sleep is essential for health. But what happens to our brains when sleep patterns are disturbed? Join our experts to explore the interplay between sleep disruption and neurological diseases, and the questions that you need to be asking your patients to help you prevent the harmful effects of sleep deprivation.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Prevalence and determinants of hypertension in Myanmar - a nationwide cross-sectional study

Authors: Marius B. Bjertness, Aung Soe Htet, Haakon E. Meyer, Maung Maung Than Htike, Ko Ko Zaw, Win Myint Oo, Tint Swe Latt, Lhamo Y. Sherpa, Espen Bjertness

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2016

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), malaria and tuberculosis dominate the disease pattern in Myanmar. Due to urbanization, westernized lifestyle and economic development, it is likely that NCDs such as cerebrovascular disease and ischemic heart disease are on a rise. The leading behavioral- and metabolic NCDs risk factors are tobacco smoke, dietary risks and alcohol use, and high blood pressure and body mass index, respectively. The study aimed at estimating the prevalence and determinants of hypertension, including metabolic-, behavioral- and socio-demographic risk factors.

Methods

A nationwide, cross-sectional study of 7429 citizens of Myanmar aged 15–64 years were examined in 2009, using the WHO STEPS methodology. In separate analyses by gender, odds radios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for determinants of hypertension were estimated using logistic regression analyses. Confounders included in analyses were chosen based on Directed acyclic graphs (DAGs).

Results

The prevalence of hypertension was 30.1 % (95 % CI: 28.4–31.8) in males and 29.8 % (28.5–31.1) in females. The mean BMI was 21.7 (SD 4.3) kg/m2 for males and 23.0 (5.1) kg/m2 for females. In fully adjusted analyses, we found in both genders increased OR for hypertension if the participants had high BMI (males: OR = 2.6; 95 % CI 2.1–3.3, females: OR = 2.3; 2.0–2.7) and high waist circumference (males: OR = 3.4; 1.8–6.8, females: OR = 2.7; 2.2–3.3). In both sexes, associations were also found between hypertension and low physical activity at work, or living in urban areas or the delta region. Being underweight and use of sesame oil in cooking was associated with lower odds for hypertension.

Conclusions

The prevalence of hypertension was high and associated with metabolic-, behavioral- and socio-demographic factors. Due to expected rapid economic growth in Myanmar we recommend similar studies in the future to follow up and describe trends in the risk factors, especially modifiable factors, which will most likely be on rise. Studies on effectiveness on interventions are needed, and policies to reduce the burden of NCD risk factors should be implemented if proven effective in similar settings.
Literature
1.
Gudaro AM, Chhapra IU, Sheikh SA. Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Economic Growth: A Case Study of Pakistan. J Manag Soc Sci. 2012;8(2):22–30.
2.
Yusuf S, Reddy S, Ounpuu S, Anand S. Global burden of cardiovascular diseases - Part I: General considerations, the epidemiologic transition, risk factors, and impact of urbanization. Circulation. 2001;104(22):2746–53.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Meng Khoo C, Tai ES. Trends in the incidence and mortality of coronary heart disease in asian pacific region: the Singapore experience. J Atheroscler Thromb. 2014;21 Suppl 1:S2–8.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Abbas Q, Akbar S, Nasir AS, Ullah HA, Naseem MA: Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Gross Domestic Product. Glob J Manag Bus Res. 2011;11(8):35–39.
5.
6.
Wichaidit W, Kaewkungwal J, Sirivichayakul C, Taechaboonsermsak P, Suvithayasiri V. Maternal and child health in a marginalized community along the Thai-Myanmar border. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2011;42(1):152.PubMed
7.
Shi WZ, Yuan KB, Taylor AA, Dai AY, Pan AX, Gill AT, Wittert AG. Monosodium glutamate is related to a higher increase in blood pressure over 5 years: findings from the Jiangsu Nutrition Study of Chinese adults. J Hypertens. 2011;29(5):846–53.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey in Myanmar (2009–2010). In.: Yangon, Myanmar: IHLCA Project Technical Unit; 2011.
9.
10.
11.
WHO: Noncommunicable disease risk factor survey Myanmar 2009. In. New Delhi: WHO; 2011
12.
Sein TT, Myint P, Tin N, Win H, Aye SS, Sein T: The Republic of the Union of Myanmar Health System Review. European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. 2014;4(3):5.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Rothman KJGS, Lash TL. Modern Epidemiology. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008.
18.
Veieroed MLS, Laake P. Medical statistics in clinical and epidemiological research. Oslo: Gyldendal Akademisk; 2012.
19.
Søgaard AJ, Selmer R, Bjertness E, Thelle D. The Oslo Health Study: The impact of self-selection in a large, population-based survey. Int J Equity Health. 2004;3:3.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
20.
Anthony H, Cordesman MK. The Asian Conventional Military Balance 2006. Washington: Center for Strategic and International Studies; 2006.
21.
Mohan S, Prabhakaran D, Krishnan A. Promoting populationwide salt reduction in the South-East Asia Region: current status and future directions. Regional Health Forum. 2013;17(1):73.
22.
Reddy KS, Katan MB. Diet, nutrition and the prevention of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Public Health Nutr. 2004;7(1a):167–86.CrossRef
23.
24.
He FJ, MacGregor GA. A comprehensive review on salt and health and current experience of worldwide salt reduction programmes. J Hum Hypertens. 2009;23(6):363–84.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Ko Ko Z, Tint Swe L, Phyu Phyu A, Thein Gi T, Tin Khine M. Prevalence of Hypertension and Its Associated Factors in the Adult Population in Yangon Division, Myanmar. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2011;23(4):496–506.CrossRef
26.
Anchala R, Khan H, Di Angelantonio E, Kannuri NK, Pant H, Franco OH, Prabhakaran D. Hypertension in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence, awareness, and control of hypertension. J Hypertens. 2014;32(6):1170–7.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
27.
Aekplakorn W, Putwatana P, Sritara P, Sangthong R, Kessomboon P, Inthawong R, Taneepanichskul S, Sangwatanaroj S, Chariyalertsak S. Changes in prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in Thai population, 2004–2009: Thai National Health Examination Survey III-IV. J Hypertens. 2012;30(9):1734–42.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Zaman M, Taleb A, Rahman S, Acharyya A, Islam FA, Ahmed M. Prevalence of hypertension among Bangladeshi adult population, A meta-analysis. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2011;65:A405.CrossRef
29.
Gao Y, Tian H, Ran X, Ren Y, Chen T, Chen G, Lin L, Lu J, Weng J, Jia W, et al. Prevalence of Hypertension in China: A Cross-Sectional Study. PLoS One. 2013;8(6):e65938.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
30.
Kearney PM, Whelton M, Reynolds K, Muntner P, Whelton PK, He J. Global burden of hypertension: Analysis of worldwide data. Lancet. 2005;365(9455):217–23.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Kubo K. Myanmar’s two decades of partial transition to a market economy: a negative legacy for the new government. Post-Communist Econ. 2013;25(3):357–70.CrossRef
32.
33.
34.
35.
Wilson P, D’Agostino R, Sullivan L, Parise H, Kannel W. Overweight and obesity as determinants of cardiovascular risk - The Framingham experience. Arch Intern Med. 2002;162(16):1867–72.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Chen X, Du H, Zhang J, Chen X, Luo G, Que X, Zhang N, Bian Z, Guo Y, Li L, et al. Adiposity and blood pressure among 55 000 relatively lean rural adults in southwest of China. J Hum Hypertens. 2015;29(9):522–9.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
37.
Sankar D, Rao MR, Sambandam G, Pugalendi KV. Effect of sesame oil on diuretics or Beta-blockers in the modulation of blood pressure, anthropometry, lipid profile, and redox status. Yale J Biol Med. 2006;79(1):19–26.PubMed
38.
Huang C, Yu H, Koplan JP. Can China diminish its burden of non-communicable diseases and injuries by promoting health in its policies, practices, and incentives? Lancet. 2014;384(9945):783–92.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Dyson PAAD, Fenton B, et al. Successful Up-Scaled Population Interventions to Reduce Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Disease in Adults: Results from the International Community Interventions for Health (CIH) Project in China, India and Mexico. PLoS One. 2015;10(4):e0120941.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
Metadata
Title
Prevalence and determinants of hypertension in Myanmar - a nationwide cross-sectional study
Authors
Marius B. Bjertness
Aung Soe Htet
Haakon E. Meyer
Maung Maung Than Htike
Ko Ko Zaw
Win Myint Oo
Tint Swe Latt
Lhamo Y. Sherpa
Espen Bjertness
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3275-7

Other articles of this Issue 1/2016

BMC Public Health 1/2016 Go to the issue

Research article

Food for thought? Potential conflicts of interest in academic experts advising government and charities on dietary policies

Research article

It’s not only what you say, it’s also how you say it: communicating Nipah virus prevention messages during an outbreak in Bangladesh

Research article

Effectiveness of additional follow-up telephone counseling in a smoking cessation clinic in Beijing and predictors of quitting among Chinese male smokers

Research article

Factors associated with secondhand smoke exposure in different settings: Results from the German Health Update (GEDA) 2012

Research article

The art of being mentally healthy: a study to quantify the relationship between recreational arts engagement and mental well-being in the general population

Study protocol

Effect of a novel two-desk sit-to-stand workplace (ACTIVE OFFICE) on sitting time, performance and physiological parameters: protocol for a randomized control trial