The prevalence of hypertension and hypertension control among married Namibian couples

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that having a marital partner with hypertension is associated with an individual’s increased risk of hypertension, however this has not been investigated in sub-Saharan Africa despite hypertension being a common condition; the age-standardised prevalence of hypertension was 46.0% in 2013 in Namibia. OBJECTIVE: To explore whether there is spousal concordance for hypertension and hypertension control in Namibia. METHODS: Couples data from the 2013 Namibia Demographic and Health Survey were analysed. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to explore the odds of individual’s hypertension based on their partner’s hypertension status, 492 couples. and the odds of hypertension control in individuals based on their partner’s hypertension control (121 couples), where both members had hypertension. Separate models were built for female and male outcomes for both research questions to allow independent consideration of risk factors to be analysed for female and males. RESULTS: The unadjusted odds ratio of 1.57 (CI 1.10–2.24) for hypertension among individuals (both sexes) whose partner had hypertension compared to those whose partner did not have hypertension, was attenuated to aOR 1.35 (CI 0.91–2.00) for females (after adjustment for age, BMI, diabetes, residence, individual and partner education) and aOR 1.42 (CI 0.98–2.07) for males (after adjustment for age and BMI). Females and males were significantly more likely to be in control of their hypertension if their partner also had controlled hypertension, aOR 3.69 (CI 1.23–11.12) and aOR 3.00 (CI 1.07–8.36) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Having a partner with hypertension was positively associated with having hypertension among married Namibian adults, although not statistically significant after adjustment. Partner’s hypertension control was significantly associated with individual hypertension control. Couples—focused interventions, such as routine partner screening of hypertensive individuals, could be developed in Namibia.