{
  "id": 198688,
  "title": "Undiagnosed hypertension and its determinants among adults in Rwanda in the 2021–2022 WHO STEPS survey",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/undiagnosed-hypertension-and-its-determinants-among-adults-in-rwanda",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-06T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Scientific Reports",
    "slug": "scientific-reports",
    "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-64377-z"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hypertension, or high blood pressure, poses a significant health challenge in Rwanda, yet many adults with the condition remain undiagnosed. A study conducted using data from Rwanda's 2021-2022 STEP (Screening for Trend, Evaluation, Prevention, and Treatment) Survey examined the prevalence and determinants of undiagnosed hypertension among adults aged 18-69 years. The survey included 1,223 participants who met clinical criteria for hypertension, with 42.9% (n=524) of them unaware of their condition.\n\nThe research found that younger adults were significantly more likely to be undiagnosed, with those aged 18-24 years having more than double the odds (AOR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.30-6.30, p = 0.009) compared to older adults. Similarly, men had higher odds of undiagnosed hypertension than women (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.82-3.96, p < 0.001). Higher education levels were protective against undiagnosed hypertension, while residents of the Western Province showed elevated odds (AOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.07-3.05, p = 0.026).\n\nA critical factor in undiagnosed hypertension was not visiting a health worker in the past year, with this behavior having the strongest predictor effect (AOR = 3.2, 95% CI: 2.33-4.51, p < 0.001). These findings emphasize the need for increased routine blood pressure screening among younger adults and men, as well as the strengthening of community-based detection efforts across Rwanda to address this public health concern.",
  "summary": "Scientific Reports, Published online: 06 August 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-64377-z Undiagnosed hypertension and its determinants among adults in Rwanda in the 2021–2022 WHO STEPS survey",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}