Prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and risk assessment using a validated survey in community-based screening in Amman, Jordan
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The rising incidence of hypertension in Jordan has contributed to high rates of associated morbidity/mortality and increased societal costs. Hypertension affects approximately 30% of Jordan's adult population. This study assessed the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension through blood pressure measurement and evaluated future hypertension risk using a validated survey in a community setting. The survey instrument incorporates demographic and clinical factors to predict the likelihood of hypertension development within a nine-year timeframe. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional local community screening in Amman, Jordan (Sept 2022-Sept 2023). Trained university pharmacy students had measured blood pressure and distributed a validated 9-risk predictors questionnaire to adults without diagnosed hypertension during a single visit. Participants were categorized using American Heart Association criteria. RESULTS: Among 932 adult participants of the study, approximately 57% were female, 34% were overweight, 16% were obese, and 5.3% were extremely obese. Risk factors included current smoking (38%), diabetes mellitus comorbidity (8%), family history of hypertension (61%), and insufficient exercise (62%). Systolic readings were classified as elevated (45%), stage 1 (15%), or stage 2 (5.5%). Diastolic readings had stage 1 (42%) or stage 2 (7.6%). Participants with risk scores ≥17 (n = 39) were those who had current hypertension (BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg). Those were classified as high-risk based on established cutoffs. CONCLUSION: Our community screening revealed a high prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension (20.6%) and identified a substantial proportion at high risk for future hypertension. The risk assessment tool showed good screening ability to reveal the participants' hypertension status, supporting its utility for risk stratification in resource-limited settings. Moreover, our validated risk tool effectively classified between those with and without current hypertension and identified individuals needing intensive preventive interventions. This dual approach of BP measurement and risk assessment may guide targeted screening intervals and preventive interventions in Jordan and similar settings.
Source: PLoS ONE
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,382
Funders: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Eli Lilly and Company, Fondazione CRT, Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, McMaster University, University of Salford Manchester, Wellcome Trust, Academic Medical Organization of Southwestern Ontario, UK Research and Innovation, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Dolby Family Ventures, Physicians' Services Incorporated Foundation, National Institute for Health and Care Research, British Heart Foundation, Leverhulme Trust, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society, Baring Foundation, King's College London, University of Kent, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India, Indian Council of Medical Research, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Korea University, Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, National Research Foundation of Korea, Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Shionogi, Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan, Russian Science Foundation, Direction Générale de l’offre de Soins, Hungarian Science Foundation, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Canada First Research Excellence Fund, University of Phayao, Milli Eğitim Bakanliği, Universidad Andrés Bello, Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea, Région Normandie, Jiangsu Ocean University, Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Mental Health, Canadian Frailty Network, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, ACS Division of Organic Chemistry, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Australian Research Council, Science and Engineering Research Board, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Health and Social Care Delivery Research, National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration West, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Center for the Study of the American South, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Awards: G9000025022, G9000036510
OpenAlex ID: W7140129601