Prevalence and some important risk factors of hypertension in Ban Paew District, second report.

Background: Hypertension (HT) has been one of the leading global risk factors for health. Therefore, it is important to indicate groups ofpeople with high risk(s) of HT to provide them with lifestyles modification and checking blood pressure (BP) periodically for early detection of HT.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of HT and some important risk factors in suspected high-risk group.

Material And Method: Randomized villages in Ban Paew District, Samuthsakorn Province, Central Thailand, which were near the sea, were selected for this study. The authors conducted the survey between February and April 2002 and 2003, getting one volunteer from each house who was in the age of 40-69 years (y). Volunteers were advised to fast from 8 pm until next morning for blood drawn, checking the weight, height, and waist. BP was measured by using the automatic BP and history, physical examination, etc were done. BP at 140/90 mm Hg or higher either systole or diastole and persons with currently treatment would be diagnosed as hypertension.

Results: One thousand seventy nine volunteers with completed data were included. One hundred fifty three (14.2%) were known HT, 143 (19.5%) out of 735 and 62 (32.5%) out of 191 volunteers, with no history of HT did not know that their BP reached hypertensive level. Therefore, 205 (22.1%) from 926 volunteers were hypertensive with 89 (26.6%) from 335 men, 116 (19.6%) from 591 women (p = 0.0145) and 32 (3.5%) with isolated systolic hypertension. HT increased significantly in age of 60-69 y, more than 50-59 y and 40-49 y, BMI over 25 (p = 0.0002) and drinking alcohol (p = 0.0384). However, it did not increase with smoking (p = 0.2139) and eating salty foods (p = 0.6568). The group which ate sour taste had borderline significance for negative risk of hypertension (p = 0.0489).

Conclusion: The authors reported the prevalence of 22.1% having hypertension in the age group of 40-69 years and up to 32.5% in the group of not knowing their BP. Hypertension significantly increased with older age group from 40-49 to 60-69y, male gender, BMI over 25, drinking alcohol. However, it didnot with borderline significance for being a negative risk of hypertension in eating sour taste group.