Early Detection Of Hypertension In Kunduran Village, Ulu Musi District, Empat Lawang Regency

Abstract

Hypertension is a condition characterized by persistently elevated blood pressure, defined as a systolic blood pressure of ≥140 mmHg and/or a diastolic blood pressure of ≥90 mmHg based on repeated measurements. According to the latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79 years worldwide have hypertension. Data from the Empat Lawang District Health Office for 2023 indicate that in Empat Lawang District, there are an estimated 52,374 residents aged ≥15 years with hypertension. Of this number, 28,164 people with hypertension were recorded as having received health care services. Thus, according to these data, approximately 53.8% of the estimated number of people with hypertension in Empat Lawang were recorded as having received care. Based on data from the Padang Tepong Community Health Center in 2024, there were 80 cases of hypertension. This study employed a descriptive research method with a cross-sectional approach aimed at the early detection of hypertension among the community in Kunduran Village, Ulu Musi Subdistrict, Empat Lawang Regency. The study was conducted by directly measuring blood pressure in respondents using a standard sphygmomanometer. The population in this study consisted of all older adults in Kunduran Village, with a sample of 90 respondents selected using either total sampling or purposive sampling.  A portion of the respondents (54.4%) had a family history of hypertension; the majority of respondents (63.3%) were active smokers; and the majority of respondents (61.1%) were in the high-risk age group in Kunduran Village, Ulu Musi Subdistrict, Empat Lawang Regency. Overall, the results of this study indicate that family history, smoking habits, and age are significant risk factors associated with the incidence of hypertension in Kunduran Village. Therefore, efforts for the early detection of hypertension should focus on community groups with these risk factors. In addition to routine blood pressure checks, health education regarding lifestyle changes—such as quitting smoking and adopting a healthy lifestyle—is necessary to reduce the risk of hypertension and its complications. Based on the study results, it can be concluded that some respondents have risk factors for hypertension, namely a family history of hypertension, smoking habits, and being in a high-risk age group. The results of the bivariate analysis using the chi-square test showed that there was a significant association between family history, smoking habits, and age with the incidence of hypertension, with p-values of less than 0.05 for each. This indicates that genetic factors, smoking behavior, and the aging process play an important role in the development of hypertension among the residents of Kunduran Village. Therefore, early detection of hypertension is essential as a measure for the prevention and control of hypertension at the community level.