Mapping the Burden of Hypertension in Türkiye (2008-2022): A National Cross-Sectional Study of Nearly 100000 Adults.

BACKGROUND

Hypertension (HTN) remains one of the most common and modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases worldwide. While several studies have explored its risk factors, updated national data covering long-term trends in Türkiye has been limited.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from seven national health surveys carried out in Türkiye between 2008 and 2022, including a total of 97562 participants aged 19 and older. We calculated HTN prevalence across years and performed univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses to examine associations with demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors.

RESULTS

Overall, 18.9% of participants reported to have HTN. Prevalence increased modestly from 2008 to 2016 and then stabilized by 2022 (18.4%). HTN was significantly associated with older age, female gender, higher BMI, larger waist circumference, lower education level, unemployment, physical inactivity, and having a spouse or parent with HTN. Notably, individuals with graduate-level education had a higher prevalence of HTN than those without a high school education, and regular smokers showed a slightly lower prevalence compared to nonsmokers. There was also a significant regional difference in HTN diagnoses.

CONCLUSION

Our findings offer an updated picture of HTN in Türkiye and highlight the influence of age, gender, lifestyle, geographical region, and family context on its prevalence. These results can guide future public health strategies of risk reduction at the individual, household, and regional levels.