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Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 13(5), pp. 1312 - 1320
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2025.130523
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Factors Associated with the Early Onset of Hypertension: Insights from the South African General Household Survey, 2024

Sbonelo Chamane ^*, Angeline Ngcobo , Prudence Chambale , Kutloano Skhosana , Musawenkosi Mabaso
Public Health, Societies and Belonging, Human Sciences Research Council, South Africa

ABSTRACT

Background: Early-onset hypertension, defined as high blood pressure diagnosed before age 55, is an emerging public health concern associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the 2024 South African General Household Survey. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise sample characteristics. The Pearson Chi-Square Test of Independence was used to assess differences in the prevalence of early-onset hypertension across sample characteristics. A bivariate Generalised Linear Model (GLM) with a binomial distribution and log link function identified significant individual associations, and significant variables were included in a multivariate GLM to determine factors associated with the early onset of hypertension. Results: Of the 32,717 participants aged 20–54 years, 5.3% (95% CI: 5.1–5.6) self-reported having hypertension. The final model showed the factors associated with a higher prevalence of the early onset of hypertension were being aged 35–44 years (aOR= 4.02 [95% CI: 3.32–4.86], p<0.001) and 45–54 years (aOR= 10.13 [95% CI: 8.39–12.24], p<0.001) compared to 20–34 years; females (aOR= 2.23 [95% CI: 2.05–2.64], p<0.001) compared to males; married (aOR= 1.45 [95% CI: 1.27–1.64], p<0.001) compared to never married; Other races (aOR= 1.56 [95% CI: 1.34–1.82], p<0.001) compared to Black African; those who reside in urban areas (aOR= 1.37 [95% CI: 1.19–1.57], p<0.001) compared to rural areas; self-reporting good (aOR= 2.21 [95% CI: 1.73–2.84], p<0.001) and fair or poor health status (aOR= 5.74 [95% CI: 4.64–7.11], p<0.001) compared to excellent/very good; having at least one other chronic illness (aOR= 2.04 [95% CI: 1.73–2.41], p<0.001) compared to no other chronic illness. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for early prevention and screening efforts targeting young adults, with a specific focus on the high-risk groups identified in this study. Public health interventions should be tailored to address these demographic and health-related risk factors to halt the rising burden of hypertension among younger populations in South Africa.

KEYWORDS
Hypertension, Risk Factors, Comorbidities, Early Onset, Young Adults

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Sbonelo Chamane , Angeline Ngcobo , Prudence Chambale , Kutloano Skhosana , Musawenkosi Mabaso , "Factors Associated with the Early Onset of Hypertension: Insights from the South African General Household Survey, 2024," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 13, No. 5, pp. 1312 - 1320, 2025. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2025.130523.

(b). APA Format:
Sbonelo Chamane , Angeline Ngcobo , Prudence Chambale , Kutloano Skhosana , Musawenkosi Mabaso (2025). Factors Associated with the Early Onset of Hypertension: Insights from the South African General Household Survey, 2024. Universal Journal of Public Health, 13(5), 1312 - 1320. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2025.130523.