title: Prevalence of arterial hypertension and associated factors in adults in São Luís, state of Maranhão.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) and its risk factors in the less developed regions of Brazil.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of arterial hypertension and its associated factors in the population > 18 years in São Luís, state of Maranhão according to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee (JNC 7) criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in São Luís, MA, from February to March 2003, with 835 individuals >18 years who completed a structured household questionnaire. Measurements of arterial pressure (AP), weight, height and waist circumference were taken, and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease were assessed. The Poisson regression method was used for the identification of factors associated with AH, with an estimate of the prevalence ratio (PR) and its corresponding 95% confidence interval.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age varied from 18 and 94 years (mean age was 39.4 years), 293 (35.1%) individuals were normotensive and 313 (37.5%) were pre-hypertensive. The AH prevalence was 27.4% (95% CI--24.4% to 30.6%), and it was higher among men (32.1%) than among women (24.2%). In the adjusted analysis, the following remained independently associated with AH: male gender (PR 1.52, 95% CI, 1.25-1.84), age > or = 30 years, with PR=6.65, 95% CI, 4.40-10.05 for > or = 60 years of age, overweight (PR 2.09 95% CI 1.64-2.68), obesity (PR 2.68, 95% CI, 2.03-3.53) and diabetes (PR 1.56, 95% CI, 1.24-1.97).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest the need to control overweight, obesity and diabetes, especially among women and individuals > or = 30 years of age in order to reduce the prevalence of arterial hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brasil. josebbarbosa@uol.com.br
authors.forename: José Bonifácio
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Antonio Augusto Moura da
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Alcione Miranda dos
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Francisco das Chagas
authors.initials: Fd
authors.lastname: Monteiro Júnior
authors.forename: Márcio Mesquita
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Marcelo Mesquita
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: José Albuquerque de
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Figueiredo Neto
authors.forename: Nivaldo de Jesus S
authors.initials: Nde J
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Vinicius José da Silva
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Nina
authors.forename: José Nicodemo
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Barbosa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult