title: The prevalence, predictors and associations of hypertension in Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional population based national survey.
abstract: We studied the community prevalence, patterns and predictors of hypertension in a large sub-population of South Asian adults with a view of identifying differential risk factors. Data were collected between years 2005-2006 and 5000 adults were invited for the study. The sample size was 4485, and about 39.5% were males. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 127.1 ± 19.8 mmHg and 75.4 ± 11.3 mmHg, respectively. Age-adjusted prevalence in all adults, males and females was 23.7%, 23.4% and 23.8%, respectively. Urban adults had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension than rural adults. In the binary logistic-regression analysis, male gender (OR: 1.2), increasing age, Sri Lankan Moor ethnicity (OR: 1.6), physical inactivity (OR: 1.7), presence of diabetes (OR: 2.2) and central obesity (OR: 2.3) all were significantly associated with hypertension. In conclusion, nearly one-third of the Sri Lankan adult population is hypertensive. Hence, public health initiatives should encourage healthier lifestyles with emphasis on preventing obesity and increasing physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo , Sri Lanka .
authors.forename: Prasad
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katulanda
authors.forename: Priyanga
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ranasinghe
authors.forename: Ranil
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jayawardena
authors.forename: Godwin R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Constantine
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rezvi Sheriff
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Matthews
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Adults; Sri Lanka; blood pressure; hypertension; prevalence