Abstract
Hypertension is a global public health concern, with varying prevalence and risk factors across different populations. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of hypertension and identify its associated determinants among adults in Hawtat Bani Tamim Province. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 adult participants. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and clinical measurements were collected. Hypertension was diagnosed based on standard criteria. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with hypertension, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. The overall prevalence of hypertension among the participants was 25.5%, with a higher rate observed in urban areas (15%) than in rural areas (10.4%). Multivariate analysis revealed that age was significantly associated with hypertension, with participants aged 20-30 years (OR = 0.181, 95% CI: 0.067-0.485), 31-40 years (OR = 0.235, 95% CI: 0.092-0.599), 41-50 years (OR = 0.184, 95% CI: 0.067-0.510), and 51-60 years (OR = 0.268, 95% CI: 0.104-0.690) having lower odds than those over 60 years. Males had a lower risk than females (OR = 0.423, 95% CI: 0.192-0.932). Individuals with lower educational levels were also found to have reduced odds of hypertension (secondary or less: OR = 0.315, 95% CI: 0.118-0.844; bachelor's degree: OR = 0.294, 95% CI: 0.127-0.679) compared to postgraduates. Regarding BMI, normal weight (OR = 0.262, 95% CI: 0.126-0.544) and overweight (OR = 0.421, 95% CI: 0.220-0.805) individuals had lower odds of hypertension than obese participants. Marital status was a significant determinant, with married individuals having higher odds of hypertension (OR = 3.222, 95% CI: 1.807-6.110). Smoking was associated with a lower risk of hypertension (OR = 0.181, 95% CI: 0.067-0.485). Hypertension is prevalent among adults in Hawtat Bani Tamim Province, with significant associations observed for age, gender, education, BMI, marital status, and smoking. Targeted interventions addressing these risk factors are recommended to reduce the burden of hypertension in this population.