[Hypertension in women: study in mothers of students from Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Pernambuco, Brazil].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this research was to study the prevalence of hypertension in apparently healthy women community with a view preparing a program for primary prevention of hypertension.


METHODS
The population survey involved a representative sample of mothers of 126.800 students enrolled at schools of Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Pernambuco, Brasil. The population size (1.273 students) was selected from a 5% +/- 2% expected frequency of the hypertension in children with a confidence level of 99.9%. This study comprised 21 schools and a random sample of 986 mothers of 1.601 students). Two blood pressure measurements separated by 2 minutes were carried out in the schools on two subsequent visits. The corporal mass index was determined in 893 mothers. In a group of 671 mothers, a midstream urine specimen was collected and the dip - stick was used to assess the presence of urinary abnormalities.


RESULTS
The prevalence of the hypertension was 27.7% and it was significantly higher (p<0.01) in overweight (28.5%) and obese women (57%) than normal weight women (14%) and underweight women (12%). There was significant difference regarding the presence of glucosuria between the hypertensives and the normotensives women (3% and 0%, respectively). In a group of 62 hypertensives women with followup at 3 to 12 month interval, the blood pressure has been controlled in 13 (21%) and remains below the initial hypertensive stage in 27 (43.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of hypertension (27,7%) do agree with the data in the literature concerning hypertension in women (26%), showing a higher tendency in overweight and obese women. We are continuing the followup of the hypertensive women as well as developing a community program for primary prevention of hypertension in the target population.
Unidade de Pesquisa em Nefrologia, Urologia e Nutrição, Departamentos de Nutrição e Medicina Clínica, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brasil. teodosiomarta@terra.com.br
Marta Regueira
MR
Teodósio
Clara Lúcia C de
CL
Freitas
Naíde Teodósio Valois
NT
Santos
Eliane da Cunha Mendonça de
EC
Oliveira
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis