[Arterial hypertension and its correlation with some risk factors in a small brazilian town].
BACKGROUND
arterial hypertension (AH) is a health problem that affects a large number of undiagnosed or inadequately treated hypertensive individuals and presents a high rate of treatment nonadherence.


OBJECTIVE
to estimate the prevalence of AH and its correlation with some cardiovascular risk factors among the adult population of the town of Firminopolis, state of Goiás, Brazil.


METHODS
descriptive, observational and cross-sectional population-based study of a simple random sample (age > 18 years): standardized questionnaires with blood pressure (BP) measurements (AH criterion: BP > 140 x 90 mmHg), weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Data were stored (Microsoft Access) and analyzed using Epi-info software.


RESULTS
we evaluated 1,168 individuals, with a predominance of the female sex - 63.2% and a mean age of 43.2 ± 14.9 years. There was a prevalence of overweight in 33.7% of the individuals and obesity in 16.0% of the individuals. There was a prevalence of altered WC in 51.8% demand of smoking in 23.2%. A sedentary life style at work and leisure activities was present in 67.6% and 64.8% of the individuals, respectively, with a higher proportion seen among the women. Alcohol consumption was observed in 33.3% of the sample. The prevalence of AH was 32.7%, higher among the men (35.8%) than among the women (30.9%). A positive correlation with AH was identified with BMI, WC and age range. A negative correlation was observed between AH and level of schooling, with 18.2% of hypertensive individuals with 9 or more years of schooling.


CONCLUSIONS
a high prevalence of AH, overweight and WC alteration was identified. The female sex represented a protective factor for the risk of AH. A positive correlation was found between AH and BMI, WC and age range; a negative correlation was identified between AH and level of schooling.
Nascente
Flávia Miquetichuc Nogueira
FM
Liga de Hipertensão Arterial, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil.
Jardim
Paulo César Brandão Veiga
PC
Peixoto
Maria do Rosário Gondim
Mdo R
Monego
Estelamaris Tronco
ET
Moreira
Humberto Graner
HG
Vitorino
Priscila Valverde de Oliveira
PV
Souza
Weimar Kunz Sebba Barroso de
WK
Scala
Luiz Nazário
LN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult