Hypertension Among the Elderly Population and its Associated Factors in Nepal: Analysis from Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2022

Background: Current evidence suggests an increasing prevalence of hypertension and associated burden among the older population in Nepal. Despite being a common health problem and a strong risk factor for chronic health conditions among older adults, there is a gap in the literature regarding the prevalence of hypertension and associated factors among the older population in Nepal. Hence, this study aimed to find the prevalence and factors associated with hypertension among older adults in Nepal.Methods: The 2022 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey data on older adults aged 65 years and above (n=725) was used in this study. Hypertension was operationalized as a binary variable, indicating its presence or absence. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to test the association of lifestyle factors such as obesity, food insecurity, and sociodemographic factors with hypertension while accounting for complex survey design features. Results: The prevalence of hypertension among older population in Nepal was 37.4%. Among the lifestyle factors, individuals with overweight [adjusted odds ratio (aOR=2.03, p=0.006)], obesity (aOR=2.71, p=0.018), and those who used non-iodized kitchen salt (aOR=3.38, p=0.016) had higher odds of having hypertension. Among sociodemographic factors, greater age, and ethnic minorities such as Dalits and Terai Janajati had higher odds of having hypertension. Moreover, older adults in the richer wealth quintile (aOR=0.42, p=0.016) had lower odds of having hypertension than those in the poorest quintile. Conclusions: This study found a notable prevalence of hypertension among the older population in Nepal. Targeted hypertension screening programs for older adults should be prioritized. Similarly, hypertension awareness and healthcare access should be improved among lower-income and marginalized ethnic households such as Dalits, and Tarai Janajatis by enhancing the capacity of the local governments. Keywords: Blood pressure; cardiovascular disease; NDHS; prevalence.