Household Air Pollution and High Blood Pressure: A Secondary Analysis of the 2016 Albania Demographic Health and Survey Dataset

Mustapha S. Abba, Chidozie U. Nduka, Seun Anjorin and Olalekan A. Uthman
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Mustapha S. Abba: Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, The University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
Chidozie U. Nduka: Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, The University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
Seun Anjorin: Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, The University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
Olalekan A. Uthman: Warwick Centre for Global Health, Division of Health Sciences, University of Warwick Medical School, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-11

Abstract: Background: Hypertension is a significant public health problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aimed to examine the association between household air pollution (HAP) and blood pressure using data from the 2016 Albania Demographic Health and Survey (DHS). Methods: We computed the odds ratio (OR) for the prevalence of hypertension between respondents exposed to clean fuels (e.g., electricity, liquid petroleum gas, natural gas, and biogas) and respondents exposed to polluting fuel (e.g., kerosene, coal/lignite, charcoal, wood, straw/shrubs/grass, and animal dung). Result: The results show that participants exposed to household polluting fuels in Albania were 17% more likely to develop hypertension than those not exposed to household air pollution (OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.24). Subgroup analysis revealed that the odds of hypertension were more significant among women (OR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.31), rural residents (OR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.22), and participants aged >24 years (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.62) who were exposed to household polluting fuels compared to their counterparts who were not exposed. In summary, the results of the study show significant associations between household air pollution and hypertension risk overall, especially among women, rural dwellers, and people aged >24 years in Albania. Conclusion: In this study, an association between household air pollution and the risk of hypertension was found, particularly among low-income households, those with no education, women, and those who live in rural areas.

Keywords: hypertension; high blood pressure; household air pollution; polluting fuels; Albania; low- and middle-income countries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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