Prevalence of hypertension in the urban population of Catanduva, in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence of systemic hypertension and its control in the population of Catanduva, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.


METHODS
We carried out a randomized cross-sectional population-based study of the urban population of Catanduva with individuals above 18 years of age (688 individuals accounting for 0.9% of the referred population). We interviewed study participants to analyze the major qualitative and quantitative variables that could influence the hypertensive scenario and the risk for systemic hypertension. Blood pressure was measured through the indirect method according to the III Consenso Brasileiro de Hipertensão (III Brazilian Consensus on Hypertension), which established blood pressure levels >/= 140/90 mm Hg as hypertensive.


RESULTS
The prevalence of systemic hypertension was higher in individuals with: (1) history of hypertension (p<0.0001); (2) diabetes mellitus (p=0.05); (3) body mass index (B. M. I) >/= 25 kg/m(2) (p<0.001); (4) low educational level (p<0.0001); (5) familial income ranging from 1 to 5 minimum wages (p<0.05); (6) unmarried status (divorced/separated and widow(er)s) (p<0.0001). Of the interviewed individuals, 27.6% (p=0.05) had blood pressure levels under control.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed that the prevalence of systemic hypertension was 31.5%, and that 27.6% of the individuals interviewed had blood pressure levels under control at the time of the interview.
Freitas
O C
OC
Faculdade de Medicina de Catanduva--FAMECA, Catanduva, SP, Brazil. fisiofrc@uol.com.br
Resende de Carvalho
F
F
Marques Neves
J
J
Veludo
P K
PK
Silva Parreira
R
R
Marafiotti Gonçalves
R
R
Arenales de Lima
S
S
Bulgarelli Bestetti
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011897:Random Allocation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health