YIELD OF SCREENING FOR BLOOD PRESSURE OF EMPLOYEES IN A MEDICAL UNIVERSITYAT KARACHI

Background: High blood pressure is an under-diagnosed condition and it damages the body with no or only mild symptoms. In Pakistan 19% people of age 15 or above suffer from high blood pressure. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of high blood pressure among apparently healthy populationMethodology: It was a cross-sectional study, conducted from May 2009 to September 2009, at Dow Univer¬sity of Health Sciences, Ojha Campus, Karachi. With convenient sampling technique, the total study population was 124 with male to female ratio of 1.2:1. The employees of the University, both faculty and supporting staff, who were not known cases of high blood pressure, and who consented to participate, were included in the study.Results: The hypertensives found were 11 (9%) and 8(6.5%) were in the pre-hypertension category. There was no difference of normal BP among faculty and supporting staff (84.8% and 84.2% respectively). Four (3.2%) study subjects were going for regular walk, and they were normotensive. The smokers were 15(12%), and all the 5 smokers among 15 of more than 10 years duration were having high BPConclusion: A substantial number of study population did not have idea of having high BP, a vast majority was having sedentary life-style. There is need to promote awareness regarding hypertension and its risk factors and a healthy lifestyle