Prevalence of hypertension in a population of healthy individuals.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of hypertension (HTN) in a random sample of individuals in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.


METHODS
A total of 243 participants were randomly selected at a megamall in Jeddah, on May 2008. Questionnaires were distributed to all the participants by one of the researchers, who explained the purpose of the study and the content of the questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed to gather information regarding the prevalence of HTN in the general population in addition to identifying other risk factors associated with HTN. Notably, accurate blood pressure measurements were performed on all the participants.


RESULTS
Of the 243 participants, 55 (22.6%) were hypertensive. Of these, 28 (50.9%) were males and 27 (49.1%) females. The probability of having HTN was significantly higher with increasing age with 7 (38.9%) of the participants >50 years of age. Similarly, HTN increased proportionately with the participant's body mass index. With regard to other risk factors, 13 (50%) of the diabetics, 10 (27.0%) of the dyslipidemic participants and 9 (18.4%) of the cigarette-smoking participants had HTN.


CONCLUSIONS
The occurrence of HTN was high and was strongly associated with diabetes, the aging process and obesity.
Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Ashraf M
AM
Elkhalifa
Abdulhalim Jamal
AJ
Kinsara
Doha A
DA
Almadani
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000473:pathology; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires