Awareness and Early Recognition of Hypertension and Its Risk Factors Among Adult Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Background: Hypertension is a major global public health concern and a leading risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Despite the availability of effective screening and treatment strategies, hypertension often remains undiagnosed due to poor awareness and delayed recognition, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Objective: To assess the level of awareness and early recognition of hypertension and its associated risk factors among adult patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Khalid Hospital, Lahore, among 140 adult patients aged 18 years and above. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, awareness of hypertension, early recognition, and knowledge of risk factors. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize awareness levels, and chi-square tests were applied to examine associations between awareness and selected demographic variables. Results: The mean age of participants was 44.3 ± 11.8 years, with 55.7% being male. Good overall awareness was observed in 32.9% of participants, while 27.1% demonstrated poor awareness. Although 68.6% correctly identified hypertension as high blood pressure, only 51.4% recognized its asymptomatic nature. Higher education level and family history of hypertension were significantly associated with better awareness (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Awareness and early recognition of hypertension among adult patients were suboptimal, with notable gaps in understanding its silent progression and key risk factors. Strengthening patient education and promoting routine blood pressure screening within healthcare settings are essential to improve early detection and prevent hypertension-related complications.