بررسي شيوع پرفشاري خون در جمعيت شهري سبزوار

Study of the Prevalence of Hypertension in the Urban Population of Sabzevar, Iran

Background and Purpose: Hypertension is a common but asymptomatic disease which is easily traced and treated. However. if left untreated, deadly complications and hgih costs of treatement should be expected. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of hypertension in the urban population of Sabzevar, Iran. Methods and Materials: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on the population of urban families supported by the health centers in Sabzevar, Iran. 596 cases (age 19 years or older) were selected by stratified sampling. In addition to filling out the study questionniare, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the cases were measured by the standard method using Alpk2 sphygmomanometer and Litman stethescope. The hypertension threshold was considered as 140190. Frequency and percentages were used to describe the data, and chi-square was used for the analysis in SPSS. Results: The prevalence of the systolic and diastolic BP hypertensions were 21.5% and 25.8% respectively, and the prevalence was higher with women rather than men (p<0.0001). As ascending trend in the systolic and diastolic hypertnesion was observed with the increase in the age. Also. the prvalence of systolic and diastolic hypertnesions were observed to be 69.5% and 54% in cases of 55 years or older. Conclusion: This study indicated that the prevalence of hypertension was high in Sabzevar, Iran. (journal of Satuevar University ofMedical Sciences, Volume 15. Number 1, pp.26-.12).