Prevalence and risk factors of pre-hypertension in Congolese pre and post  menopausal women.

Muchanga MJS1,, Lepira FB, Tozin R, Mbelambela EP, Ngatu NR, Sumaili EK, Makulo JR, Suganuma N
1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kinshasa University Hospital, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of
the Congo.
2. Department of Environmental Medicine, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan.
3. Department of Internal Medicine, Kinshasa University Hospital, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
4. Graduate School of Health and Nursing Sciences, University of Kochi, Kochi, Japan.
Introduction.

Abstract
Objectives:We aimed to assess the prevalence of prehypertension and its associated factors in a population of Congolese pre  and postmenopausal women.

Methods: We had consecutively recruited 200 women (100 premenopausal and 100 postmenopausal) aged 40 – 60 years at the  department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Kinshasa Hospital, and AKRAM Medical Center in Kinshasa, DRC.  An interview was carried out using a questionnaire that comprised questions related to lifestyle, menses characteristics, medical history of diabetes, CVD, hypertension, current antihypertensive medication and use of traditional medicine. In addition,  physical examination and biological measurements were performed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess  associated factors with prehypertension.

Results: Of the participants, 34% were normotensive, 38.5 % prehypertensive and 27.5% hypertensive. Compared to normal  blood pressure, prehypertension was common in the older (age>50 years of age) women. Menopause, the use of traditional  medicine and older age were associated with prehypertension. However, only menopause (aOR: 2.71; 95%CI: 1.10-3.52) and  the use of traditional medicine (aOR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.07-4.7) remained associated with prehypertension in a multivariate logistic  regression analysis.

Conclusion: This study showed that prehypertension is common among Congolese menopausal women, and that menopause  and the use of traditional medicine were the main factors associated with prehypertension.

Keywords: Pre-hypertension, Congolese pre and post menopausal women