Prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle practices among adults with hypertension aware and unaware of their hypertensive status: Results from the 2013 WHO STEPS survey in Burkina Faso

Background: We compared the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle factors between the hypertensive adults who were aware and unaware of their hypertensive status and assessed the factors associated with being aware of one’s hypertension among adults in Burkina Faso. Methods We conducted a secondary-analysis of data from the World Health Organization Stepwise approach to surveillance survey conducted in 2013 in Burkina Faso. Lifestyle factors analysed were fruits and vegetables (FV) consumption, tooth cleaning, alcohol and tobacco use, body mass index and physical activity. Results Among 774 hypertensive adults, 84.9% (95% CI: 82.2–87.3) were unaware of their hypertensive status. In those aware vs unaware respectively, frequencies of unhealthy lifestyle practices were: 92.3 vs 96.3% p = 0.07 for not eating at least five or more FV servings, 63.2 vs 70.5% p = 0.12 for not cleaning the teeth at least twice a day, 35.9 vs 42.3% p = 0.19 for tobacco and/or alcohol use, 53.9 vs 25.4% p = 0.0001 for overweight/obesity and 17.1 vs 10.3% p = 0.04 for physical inactivity. In logistic regression analysis, older age, primary or higher education, being overweight/obese (aOR = 3.2; p < 0.0001), intake of adequate FV servings daily (aOR = 2.9; p = 0.023) and non-use of alcohol and tobacco (aOR = 0.6; p = 0.028) were associated with being aware of one’s hypertensive status. Conclusion Undiagnosed hypertension was very high among hypertensive Burkinabè adults. Those aware of their hypertension diagnosis did not necessarily practise healthier lifestyles than those not previously aware of their hypertension. Current programmes at control of hypertension should aim to improve its awareness and risk reduction behaviour.