Majority of hypertension patients in Kenya are unaware of their condition and only seek treatment when it is too late to reverse the effects, a new study has revealed.
The research by global non-governmental biopharmaceutical organisation, AstraZeneca's Healthy Heart Africa, shows that men in particular do not seek treatment unless there are compelling symptoms. Allan Mackenzie, the medical access head at AstraZeneca's Healthy Heart Africa attributed this to the fear of being perceived as unwell.
“Hypertension is a silent killer, which deteriorates body organs until they become a major medical concern. Unfortunately, because it is largely asymptomatic, most patients only seek and adhere to treatment when it is too late to reverse the effects,” he said.
Treatment uptake
Mackenzie says young men, unlike older ones, are less likely to believe they are suffering from hypertension and thus not keen to seek medical attention. “It is for this reason that we are now focusing our attention on awareness, improving treatment uptake and awareness.”
He assured that AstraZeneca's Healthy Heart Africa will continue fighting the high blood pressure and other related cardiovascular diseases in Kenya.
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