Prevalence of arterial hypertension and associated factors in adults in São Luís, state of Maranhão.
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.
Barbosa
José Bonifácio
JB
Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brasil. josebbarbosa@uol.com.br
Silva
Antonio Augusto Moura da
AA
Santos
Alcione Miranda dos
AM
Monteiro Júnior
Francisco das Chagas
Fd
Barbosa
Márcio Mesquita
MM
Barbosa
Marcelo Mesquita
MM
Figueiredo Neto
José Albuquerque de
JA
Soares
Nivaldo de Jesus S
Nde J
Nina
Vinicius José da Silva
VJ
Barbosa
José Nicodemo
JN
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