# Profiling individuals living with hypertension in Saudi Arabia 2021: a nationwide descriptive study

## TL;DR

This study profiles adults with hypertension in Saudi Arabia in 2021, highlighting common comorbidities and risk factors.

## Contribution

The study provides a nationwide profile of hypertension patients in Saudi Arabia, identifying key sociodemographic and health factors.

## Key findings

- 12.3% of Saudi adults reported treated/aware hypertension, with high rates of comorbidities like diabetes and obesity.
- Older age, lower education, smoking, and obesity were significantly associated with hypertension.
- Strong links were found between hypertension and conditions like hypercholesterolemia and heart disease.

## Abstract

Hypertension is a major global health challenge affecting 1.3 billion adults, increasing risks of cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and kidney failure. Using data from a nationally representative surveillance system in Saudi Arabia, this study profiles adults living with treated or aware hypertension vs. the rest of the population and examines co-occurring sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical factors in 2021.

We analyzed data from the 2021 Sharik Health Indicators Surveillance System (SHISS), a nationwide cross-sectional phone survey employing proportional quota sampling across all 13 regions (n = 14,007; response rate = 68.3%). Hypertension status was defined as self-reported physician diagnosis with current treatment; blood pressure was not directly measured, and the survey relied entirely on self-report. Weighted descriptive statistics summarized prevalence, and multivariable logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (AORs, 95% CIs) for factors associated with hypertension. The mean participant age was 36.7 ± 13.7 years.

Overall, 12.3% of respondents reported treated/aware hypertension. Among these, common comorbidities included hypercholesterolemia (47.9%), diabetes (42.8%), overweight/obesity (75.2%), heart disease (20.2%), and elevated depression risk (23.8%). In adjusted models, higher age (AOR 1.06 per year, 95% CI 1.05–1.06), education below bachelor's (AOR 1.31, 1.14–1.50), smoking (daily AOR 1.23, 1.03–1.48; occasional AOR 1.64, 1.28–2.08), overweight (AOR 1.93, 1.20–3.11), and obesity (AOR 2.53, 1.57–4.08) were significantly associated with hypertension. Strong associations were also observed with hypercholesterolemia (AOR 4.09, 3.56–4.71), heart disease (AOR 3.54, 2.84–4.42), and diabetes (AOR 2.64, 2.28–3.05).

Adults aware of and treated for hypertension in Saudi Arabia exhibit a high burden of behavioral risks and multimorbidity. These findings can guide targeted primary care screening, integrated chronic disease management, and population-level risk reduction programs (e.g., smoking cessation, weight control), with priority to older adults, individuals with lower educational attainment, and those with co-existing diabetes or dyslipidemia.