Hypertension in employees of a University General Hospital.
To find out the prevalence of hypertension in employees of the Hospital and relate it to social demographic variables.



Blood pressure measurement was performed with a mercury sphygmomanometer, using an appropriate cuff size for arm circumference, weight, and height in a population sample of 864 individuals out of the 9,905 employees of a University General Hospital stratified by gender, age, and job position.



Hypertension prevalence was 26% (62% of these reported being aware of their hypertension and 38% were unaware but had systolic/diastolic blood pressures of >140 and/or >90 mm Hg at the moment of the measurement). Of those who were aware of having hypertension, 51% were found to be hypertensive at the moment of the measurement. The prevalence was found to be 17%, 23%, and 29% (P <.05) in physicians, nursing staff, and "others", respectively. The univariate analysis showed a significant odds ratio for the male gender, age >50 years, work unit being the Institute of Radiology and the Administration Building, educational level <elementary school, length of work >10 years, and body mass index >30 kg/m2. The multivariate logistic regression model revealed a statistically significant association of hypertension with the following variables: gender, age, skin color, family income, and body mass index.



Hypertension prevalence was high, mainly in those who were not physicians or members of the nursing staff. High-risk groups (obese, non-white, men, low family income) should be better advised of prevention and early diagnosis of hypertension by means of special programs.
Mion
Decio
D
Hypertension Unit, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of São PauloSão Paulo, SP, Brazil. deciomion@uol.com.br
Pierin
Angela M G
AM
Bambirra
Alberto P
AP
Assunção
Jorge H
JH
Monteiro
Juliana M
JM
Chinen
Roberta Y
RY
Coser
Roger B
RB
Aikawa
Vânia N
VN
Cação
Fernanda M
FM
Hausen
Mariana
M
Vilibor
Marcelo F
MF
Aikawa
Nádia E
NE
Konno
Sérgio N
SN
Coser
Roger B
RB
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors