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Anthony Etyang: Unmasking hypertension - the silent killer

Anthony studies hypertension in Kenya and The Gambia, focusing on improving diagnosis, treatment, and blood pressure control. His research addresses low awareness and treatment gaps, aiming to prevent severe outcomes like stroke and heart failure. With over 25% of adults affected, his work targets a major cause of premature death in Africa.

I'm Tony Etyang. I'm the Head of Epidemiology and Demography at the KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme. My primary area of research is in hypertension, although I do dabble in other areas of research not related to hypertension. 

A recent research project that we've been involved in has been looking at ways of better identifying who has hypertension, and among those with hypertension, better identifying who requires treatment; and after starting them on treatment, ensuring that they get controlled. This is work that we're doing in Kenya, in Kilifi, as well as in West Africa in The Gambia.

The biggest questions in the field of hypertension right now in Africa, are what can we do to improve the proportion of people who have their hypertension under control. At the moment, it's a very small proportion, less than 10% of people who have hypertension have it under control. The reasons behind this are multiple. You've got people who are not aware that they have hypertension, those who are aware for some reason are not started on treatment, and those who are started on treatment for multiple reasons don't have their blood pressure under control.

My work makes a big difference for patients in that it ensures that they get their blood pressure under control, and that prevents the major bad consequences that can result from uncontrolled hypertension. Uncontrolled hypertension can cause strokes, can cause heart failure, can cause kidney disease. And by ensuring that patients are more aware of the hypertension and have it under control, we prevent these consequences from happening.

This line of research matters and should be funded mainly because hypertension is a widespread problem, in Africa especially. We've got more than 25% of the adult population who have hypertension. Especially in the rural areas, you'll find that the majority of these people are not aware that they have hypertension. And yet, it is a very easily controllable condition. However, if it's not controlled, it causes lots of premature deaths, and it's actually one of the leading causes of premature mortality in our setting.

This interview was recorded in September 2025.

Anthony Etyang

Associate Professor Anthony Etyang, Head of Epidemiology and Demography at KWTRP, tells us about his research unmasking hypertension, the silent killer.

Translational Medicine

From bench to bedside

Ultimately, medical research must translate into improved treatments for patients. Our researchers collaborate to develop better health care, improved quality of life, and enhanced preventative measures for all patients. Our findings in the laboratory are translated into changes in clinical practice, from bench to bedside.