Associations of tobacco use, physical activity and diet with hypertension in the city of Kandahar, Afghanistan: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Objective: Hypertension exerts a substantial financial burden on individuals, families, communities, and the health system of a country. The current study aimed to describe the association of hypertension with its main risk factors in the Afghan population living in Kandahar city.

Results: The prevalence of tobacco smoking, naswar use, physical activity and a healthy diet was 22%, 55%, 63.9% and 33.6%, respectively, in men, while in women, the prevalence was 4.8%, 6.5%, 57.6% and 13.5%, respectively. The prevalence of hypertension was 28.2% and 23.9% in men and women, respectively. Hypertension was associated with age greater than 45 years [aOR (95% CI) = 2.13 (1.56-2.91)], widows [aOR (95% CI) = 1.91 (1.25-2.91)], medium and high monthly income [aOR (95% CI) = 3.45 (2.33-5.10) and aOR (95% CI) = 2.34 (1.50-3.64)], high physical activity [aOR (95% CI) = 1.72 (1.15-2.56)], obesity [aOR (95% CI) = 1.64 (1.16-2.34)] and family history of hypertension [aOR (95% CI) = 4.70 (2.44-9.04)]. Naswar use is more prevalent than tobacco smoking among urban residents from Kandahar province. Improved monitoring and control of risk factors for hypertension are required in all regions of Afghanistan.