[Arterial hypertension in the French Caribbean regions: gender related differences].
BACKGROUND
Arterial hypertension is a frequent disease, responsible for a significant morbidity, in the French Caribbean regions. Today, epidemiological studies on this topic remain few.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of arterial hypertension in the French Caribbean regions.


METHODS
Analysis of the INHAPAG cohort (Incidence of Arterial Hypertension in the Working population Antillo-Guyanaise) carried out in 2001, and including 6113 active subjects recruited in Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyana. The procedure of diagnosis of arterial hypertension comprises two visits, with a series of three measurements of the blood pressure at each visit.


RESULTS
Prevalence of hypertension is estimated to be 18.9% among women and 19.5% among men. The rates of treatment are higher among women (74.8 vs 34.4%) than among men, resulting in a much better control rate (61.3% vs 38.6% among men). An analysis of factors associated with the presence of arterial hypertension shows a noxious role of low education level among women.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study finds marked differences between women and men in the treatment and control of arterial hypertension and underline the need for improving blood pressure management of the latter.
Inamo
J
J
Departement de Cardiologie, Fort-de-France. jocelyn.inamo@chu-fortde-france.fr
Malfatti
S
S
Lang
T
T
Atallah
A
A
Inamo
A
A
Larabi
L
L
de Gaudemaris
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents