title: Awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among the elderly living in their home in Tunisia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension is a cardiovascular disorder rapidly emerging as a major public health problem in developing countries. However, the acknowledgement of the prevalence and the significant impact of hypertension in elderly are very important for health policy. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the prevalence, awareness and treatment of hypertension among the elderly living in their home in Tunisia at Monastir City. We also examined the impact of socio-demographic characteristics and known risk factors for high blood pressure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A community based sample of 598 non-institutionalized elderly (age ≥ 65 years), was selected using probabilistic multistage cluster sampling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a predominance of female (66%) and mean age was 72.3 ± 7.4 years. The prevalence of hypertension was 52% (n = 311), awareness (81%, n = 252), treatment (78.4%, n = 244) and only 30.7% (n = 75) are correctly treated. The prevalence of hypertension was higher for the female population (55.5%) when compared to males (45%). No urban/rural differences were observed and no difference was observed by educational level. Multiple logistic regression analyses identified a higher body mass index, diabetes mellitus and disability as important correlates of the prevalence of hypertension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide important information on the prevalence, awareness and control of hypertension in Monastir City and confirm their association with other cardio-vascular risk factors. Effective public health measures and strategies are needed to improve prevention, diagnosis and access to treatment of this elderly population.
authors: Laboratory of Nutrition and Vascular Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, Tunisia. Sonia.Hammami@fmm.rnu.tn
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Hammami
authors: Sounira
authors: S
authors: Mehri
authors: Said
authors: S
authors: Hajem
authors: Nadia
authors: N
authors: Koubaa
authors: Mohamed A
authors: MA
authors: Frih
authors: Samy
authors: S
authors: Kammoun
authors: Mohamed
authors: M
authors: Hammami
authors: Fathi
authors: F
authors: Betbout
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology