Associations between Socio-Demographic Factors and Hypertension Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Findings from Malaysia

The perspectives of hypertensive patients on the state of hypertension control during the ongoing pandemic restrictions have not been extensively studied in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of socio-demographic factors, health literacy, and adherence on the overall hyperten...

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Main Authors: Mohamed Hassan Elnaem, Nur Hasyimah Kamarudin, Nabeel Kashan Syed, Hasniza Zaman Huri, Inderpal Singh Dehele, Ejaz Cheema
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
Series:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/17/9306
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spelling doaj-b9c6673ed68742f5b0f0d16a913d47e62021-09-09T13:46:00ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1661-78271660-46012021-09-01189306930610.3390/ijerph18179306Associations between Socio-Demographic Factors and Hypertension Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Findings from MalaysiaMohamed Hassan Elnaem0Nur Hasyimah Kamarudin1Nabeel Kashan Syed2Hasniza Zaman Huri3Inderpal Singh Dehele4Ejaz Cheema5Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan 25710, MalaysiaDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan 25710, MalaysiaPharmacy Practice Research Unit, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jizan 45142, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, MalaysiaSchool of Pharmacy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UKSchool of Pharmacy, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, PakistanThe perspectives of hypertensive patients on the state of hypertension control during the ongoing pandemic restrictions have not been extensively studied in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of socio-demographic factors, health literacy, and adherence on the overall hypertension management in a group of Malaysian hypertensive patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. An anonymous, online cross-sectional study was conducted over three months that involved a group of Malaysian adults with hypertension. A validated, self-administered 30-item questionnaire was prepared in Malay and English languages on Google Forms. The link was then distributed to participants on social media (Facebook and WhatsApp). Following survey validation, a pilot study with 30 participants who met the inclusion criteria was carried out. The total scores for health literacy, adherence, and pandemic impact on hypertension control were calculated and compared across all independent variables. In a total of 144 study participants, controlled blood pressure was reported in 77% (N = 111). There were good levels of adherence and health literacy scores but moderate levels of pandemic impact scores. The total adherence scores showed a statistically significant difference between age groups (χ<sup>2</sup> = 6.48, <i>p</i> = 0.039) and those who reported having controlled and uncontrolled blood pressure (U = 1116, <i>p</i> = 0.001). Moreover, the analysis revealed statistically significant differences in total pandemic impact scores based on the age group (χ<sup>2</sup> = 15.008, <i>p</i> = 0.001), household income (χ<sup>2</sup> = 6.887, <i>p</i> = 0.032), employment (U = 1712, <i>p</i> = 0.006), and marital status (U = 520.5, <i>p</i> < 0.001). The youngest age group (18–39) years, the lowest income group, unemployed and unmarried individuals, had significantly higher pandemic impact scores. This denotes that those individuals were more prone to be negatively affected by the pandemic regarding their hypertension management. Most participants reported relatively controlled blood pressure and good levels of health literacy as well as adherence amidst the pandemic. To a moderate extent, study participants perceived that the pandemic had a negative effect on hypertension management. The perceived negative impact of the pandemic was attributed to several socio-demographic factors, such as age, household income, employment, and marital status.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/17/9306hypertensionpandemicperspectivesblood pressure controlhealth literacyadherence
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Mohamed Hassan Elnaem
Nur Hasyimah Kamarudin
Nabeel Kashan Syed
Hasniza Zaman Huri
Inderpal Singh Dehele
Ejaz Cheema
spellingShingle Mohamed Hassan Elnaem
Nur Hasyimah Kamarudin
Nabeel Kashan Syed
Hasniza Zaman Huri
Inderpal Singh Dehele
Ejaz Cheema
Associations between Socio-Demographic Factors and Hypertension Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Findings from Malaysia
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
hypertension
pandemic
perspectives
blood pressure control
health literacy
adherence
author_facet Mohamed Hassan Elnaem
Nur Hasyimah Kamarudin
Nabeel Kashan Syed
Hasniza Zaman Huri
Inderpal Singh Dehele
Ejaz Cheema
author_sort Mohamed Hassan Elnaem
title Associations between Socio-Demographic Factors and Hypertension Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Findings from Malaysia
title_short Associations between Socio-Demographic Factors and Hypertension Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Findings from Malaysia
title_full Associations between Socio-Demographic Factors and Hypertension Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Findings from Malaysia
title_fullStr Associations between Socio-Demographic Factors and Hypertension Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Findings from Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Associations between Socio-Demographic Factors and Hypertension Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Findings from Malaysia
title_sort associations between socio-demographic factors and hypertension management during the covid-19 pandemic: preliminary findings from malaysia
publisher MDPI AG
series International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
issn 1661-7827
1660-4601
publishDate 2021-09-01
description The perspectives of hypertensive patients on the state of hypertension control during the ongoing pandemic restrictions have not been extensively studied in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of socio-demographic factors, health literacy, and adherence on the overall hypertension management in a group of Malaysian hypertensive patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. An anonymous, online cross-sectional study was conducted over three months that involved a group of Malaysian adults with hypertension. A validated, self-administered 30-item questionnaire was prepared in Malay and English languages on Google Forms. The link was then distributed to participants on social media (Facebook and WhatsApp). Following survey validation, a pilot study with 30 participants who met the inclusion criteria was carried out. The total scores for health literacy, adherence, and pandemic impact on hypertension control were calculated and compared across all independent variables. In a total of 144 study participants, controlled blood pressure was reported in 77% (N = 111). There were good levels of adherence and health literacy scores but moderate levels of pandemic impact scores. The total adherence scores showed a statistically significant difference between age groups (χ<sup>2</sup> = 6.48, <i>p</i> = 0.039) and those who reported having controlled and uncontrolled blood pressure (U = 1116, <i>p</i> = 0.001). Moreover, the analysis revealed statistically significant differences in total pandemic impact scores based on the age group (χ<sup>2</sup> = 15.008, <i>p</i> = 0.001), household income (χ<sup>2</sup> = 6.887, <i>p</i> = 0.032), employment (U = 1712, <i>p</i> = 0.006), and marital status (U = 520.5, <i>p</i> < 0.001). The youngest age group (18–39) years, the lowest income group, unemployed and unmarried individuals, had significantly higher pandemic impact scores. This denotes that those individuals were more prone to be negatively affected by the pandemic regarding their hypertension management. Most participants reported relatively controlled blood pressure and good levels of health literacy as well as adherence amidst the pandemic. To a moderate extent, study participants perceived that the pandemic had a negative effect on hypertension management. The perceived negative impact of the pandemic was attributed to several socio-demographic factors, such as age, household income, employment, and marital status.
topic hypertension
pandemic
perspectives
blood pressure control
health literacy
adherence
url https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/17/9306
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