Prevalence of hypertension in the Middle East region: A systematic review & meta-analysis

Background and Objective :Hypertension is one of the leading causes of disease globally. This study aimed to obtain an overall and regional estimate of the prevalence of hypertension and present the disease pattern based on the age range and year in the Middle–East area.Materials and Methods: We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and Medline for articles on the prevalence of HTN among countries of Middle–East areas from ۱۹۹۵ to ۲۰۱۹. STATA-۱۴ was used to analyse the data, and they were pooled estimates by random-effects metaanalysis model, and heterogeneity of studies was assessed by meta-regression and subgroup analysis.Results: A total of eighty-three studies with ۴۷۹۸۱۶ participants met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis process. The overall prevalence of hypertension in the Middle East region was [۲۴.۳۶% (۹۵% CI: ۱۹.۰۶-۳۱.۱۴)[ . The increasing trend prevalence of hypertension was observed in the past two decades. Moreover, it has increased in different age groups, as hypertension increased from ۱۷.۱۳% (۹۵% CI: ۱۳.۷۹-۲۱.۲۷) in <۴۹ years old age group to ۶۱.۲۴% (۹۵% CI: ۵۵.۳۰-۶۷.۸۱) in the over ۶۰ years-old age group.Conclusion: The increasing prevalence of hypertension over the past two decades in the East Asian region and the high prevalence in middle-aged people (<۵۰ years) is a concern that prevention and control of blood pressure should prioritize public health programs.

Keywords:

Prevalence , hypertension , Middle–East , Meta-analysis