Prevalence of hypertension and sociodemographic characteristics of adult hypertensives in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of hypertension in adults residing in Riyadh city and to study the sociodemographic characteristics of adult hypertensives.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Primary Health Care Centres (PHCCs) in Riyadh city selected by stratified random sampling, the subjects resident in each PHCC catchment area were selected by systematic sampling from their records in the PHCCs.


METHODS
A total of 1394 adults aged 15 years and over were interviewed and examined during March 1993 to March 1994. The average of three measurements of blood pressure (BP) was taken to represent their current pressures. A subject is considered hypertensive if the average BP reading is 160/95 mm Hg or more, or is currently under treatment.


RESULTS
The total hypertensive subjects were 214 giving an overall prevalence of hypertension of 15.4%. Of these 157 (11.3%) subjects were known hypertensives and were under some form of treatment. On the other hand 57 (4.1%) other subjects were newly detected by the study. Hypertension (BP = 160/95 mm Hg or more) was significantly related to age, marriage, education, occupation and employment status and consanguinity. Male subjects had a higher prevalence of hypertension but the differences were not significant. Nationality and income were not related to high BP.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypertension is a problem among adults in Riyadh city. It is significantly related to some sociodemographic and family factors. About 27% of all hypertensives are not aware of their disease and more than 31% of known hypertensives are apparently not well controlled. There is a need for a programme to prevent and control hypertension in Riyadh city. Similar studies need to be done in other areas of the country to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and associated factors as prerequisites for any programme to control the disease.
Wahid Saeed
A A
AA
Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
al Shammary
F J
FJ
Khoja
T A
TA
Hashim
T J
TJ
Anokute
C C
CC
Khan
S B
SB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology