title: Screening for hypertension among adults: community outreach in Cairo, Egypt.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies have shown alarming levels of hypertension among adults in the Middle East. The aim of our study is to measure the prevalence rate of hypertension among adults in Cairo (Egypt), identify possible risk factors for the development of hypertension and assess the rates of undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cluster sampling was utilized and the fieldwork was conducted by 12 teams; each team consisted of a house officer, community worker and senior epidemiologist. A formulated questionnaire that addresses risk factors for hypertension was filled by all participants. Also, weight and height measurements were done to calculate the body mass index. Blood pressure measurement was done by calibrated sphygmomanometers. Blood pressure measurement was done twice, and a mean recording was calculated. A case which recorded both systolic blood pressure of ≥140 and diastolic blood pressure of ≥90 was considered hypertensive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 774 adult residents of Al-Waily District (Western Zone of Cairo) in late 2011 and early 2012. The mean age of the study participants was 46.5 (SD 17.9) years. Female subjects constituted 67.1% of the studied sample. The prevalence rate of hypertension in our study was 16.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 13.9-19.3). The rate of hypertension was higher among females and three times higher among obese compared with normal or overweight adults. The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension was 11% (95% CI: 8.4-13.9), and uncontrolled hypertension was 30% (95% CI: 24.2-37).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Community outreach campaigns should be conducted regularly in the future for early detection of hypertension cases and proper health education about hypertension and its dangerous consequences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Abbassia 11566, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Khaled M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Abd Elaziz
authors.affiliation: Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Abbassia 11566, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sahar A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Dewedar
authors.affiliation: Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Abbassia 11566, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabbour
authors.affiliation: Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Abbassia 11566, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Maha M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: El Gafaary
authors.affiliation: Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Abbassia 11566, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Diaa M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Marzouk
authors.affiliation: Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Abbassia 11566, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Aisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aboul Fotouh
authors.affiliation: Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Abbassia 11566, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed Farouk
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Allam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009765:Obesity; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking
keywords: BMI; Cairo; hypertension; prevalence; risk factors; smoking