Hypertension in women: the Women Take Heart project.
Hypertension is an important, modifiable risk for cardiovascular disease. The Women Take Heart study, a prospective, community-based cohort study of risk factors for heart disease, provides an opportunity to examine prevalence, awareness, and control of hypertension specifically in women. In 1992, 5932 women, age 35 and older (mean age, 52.9; 86% white, 9% African American, 5% other) and free of active heart disease symptoms for 3 months, were recruited through Chicago area public announcements, and their baseline examination data analyzed. Overall, 47.6% were hypertensive (systolic blood pressure >or=140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure >or=90 mm Hg, or self-report). Only 17.3% reported being hypertensive; in 63.2% of all hypertensive women, the hypertension was undetected or unacknowledged. Blood pressure was controlled to <140/90 mm Hg in 24.1% of self-reported hypertensives. Results from this study and national surveys indicate that hypertension detection and control remain major public health challenges in preventing cardiovascular disease in older women.
Furumoto-Dawson
A lice A
Al
Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush Medical College, Rush-Presbyterian-St Lukes Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Pandey
Dilip K
DK
Elliott
William J
WJ
de Leon Mendes
Carlos F
CF
Al-Hani
Arfan J
AJ
Hollenberg
Steven
S
Camba
Noel
N
Wicklund
Roxanne
R
Black
Henry R
HR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents