The epidemiology of elevated blood pressure as an estimate for hypertension in Aydın, Turkey

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Abstract
Hypertension is an important public health problem, with some variability of its epidemiological properties in different populations. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and to determine the hypertension awareness, treatment and control rates in Aydin, a Turkish province. Of 1600 coincidentally selected people aged over 18 years in Aydin, 1480 (92.5%) had their blood pressure (BP) measured and answered a standard questionnaire in 1995. Estimates of the prevalence of hypertension and its control were computed using two different criteria to define hypertension: BP > or =140/90 mm Hg or on treatment and BP > or =160/95 mm Hg or on treatment. Overall, the estimated prevalence of hypertension was 29.6% (for BP > or =140/90 mm Hg or on treatment). Hypertension prevalence increased progressively with age, from 9% in 18- to 29-year-olds to 70.6% in those 70-79 years of age. Women had a significantly higher prevalence than men (34.1% vs 26.0% respectively). Overall, 57.9% of hypertensive individuals were aware that they had high BP, and 82.1% of aware hypertensives were being treated with antihypertensive medications, but only 19.8% of treated hypertensives were under control (systolic pressure <140 mm Hg and diastolic pressure <90 mm Hg). In addition, housewives, unemployed, and the less educated individuals had greater mean systolic and diastolic BP. Our results indicate that hypertension is highly prevalent in Aydin, Turkey, and the detection and control of hypertension is unsatisfactory.

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