title: Prevalence and sociodemographic factors in a hypertensive population in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) is one of the greatest problems of public health in Brazil. Its detection and early treatment should be a priority to reduce the morbimortality of the cardiovascular diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at assessing the prevalence of SAH and the sociodemographic factors in a population of hypertensive individuals from São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out in a stratified sample of 1,717 people, representative of the urban adult population from the city of São José do Rio Preto, between 2004 and 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample consisted of 1,717 people, with 762 of them (25.2%) being characterized as hypertensive. The following results were observed: 54.6% were women; 78.4% were caucasian; 66.1% were illiterate or had not finished Elementary School; 63.9% were married, 40.9% belonged to social classes D and E; 37.9% were self-employed or wage earners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of study on SAH in the city of São José do Rio Preto shows the need for early-onset continuous educational interventions.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil. claudiacesarino@famerp.br
authors.forename: Claudia B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Cesarino
authors.forename: José Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cipullo
authors.forename: José Fernando Vilela
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Luiz Alberto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ciorlia
authors.forename: Maria Regina P de
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Godoy
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cordeiro
authors.forename: Isabela C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult