Early Stage and Established Hypertension in Sub-Saharan Africa: Results From Population Health Surveys in 17 Countries, 2010–2017

The study examined contemporary prevalence of diagnosed, treated, and controlled stage I (130–139/80–89 mm Hg) and II (≥140/90 mm Hg) hypertension in the general population of sub-Saharan Africa. Hypertension is common in sub-Saharan Africa but rates of diagnosis, treatment, and control markedly low. There is a large population with early stage hypertension that may benefit from behavioral counseling to prevent progression. The analyses suggest that success in population hypertension care may be achieved independently of socioeconomic development, highlighting a need for policymakers to identify best practices in those countries that outperform similar or more developed countries.