Brunei epidemiological stroke study: patterns of hypertension and stroke risk.
Hypertension is the most important known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Brunei Darussalam to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and its association with socioeconomic and life-style factors and impact on stroke incidence.



Five thousand and sixty-three participants aged above 18 years from 2103 randomly selected households in the Brunei-Muara district of Brunei Darussalam were surveyed. Hypertension was defined as mean SBP at least 140 mmHg, DBP at least 90 mmHg, or taking antihypertensive medication and blood pressure was measured twice. Logistic regression models are used to analyze the association between hypertension/medication for hypertension and sex, age, overweight, education, smoking, family history of hypertension, and employment.



A total of 48.3% [95% confidence interval (CI): 46.9-49.7%] of all respondents were identified as hypertensive. Prevalence of hypertension was higher in men (52.8%; 95% CI: 50.7-54.9%) compared to women (45.0%; 95% CI: 43.2-46.8%) and women seek treatment more often than men. Age, overweight, lower levels of education, and a family history of high blood pressure are positively associated with the prevalence of hypertension. The prevalence of overweight (57.3%) and obesity (23.7%) is high and the attributable risk of hypertension for stroke is large.



The prevalence of hypertension in Brunei is high in both women and men. Information campaigns and prevention programs are needed to be able to cope with the increasing problem of hypertension and resulting diseases like stroke in Brunei in the near future.
aPAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Brunei bInstitute for Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg cMedical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg dDepartment of Neurology, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt, Germany eBrunei Neuroscience Stroke Rehabilitation Centre (BNSRC), Brunei *Agong Lupat and Johannes Hengelbrock are joint first authors. †Heiko Becherb and Uta Meyding-Lamadé are joint senior authors.
Agong
A
Lupat
Johannes
J
Hengelbrock
Masliza
M
Luissin
Mario
M
Fix
Burc
B
Bassa
Eva Maria
EM
Craemer
Heiko
H
Becher
Uta
U
Meyding-Lamadé
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002010:Brunei / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents