Blood pressure profiles of pre-employed subjects in urban Sierra Leone

ABSTRACT

IN a survey of 298 clinic records of urban subjects undergoing routine medical examinations for employment; 19.4 per cent were found to be hypertensive; and in over half of these; the hypertension was moderate or severe i.e. Diastolic pressure of 105mm.Hg. or more; and/or systolic of 180mm. Hg.- or more. A further 21.5 per cent of subjects had borderline hypertension. Thus over 40 per cent of the study population were either hypertensive or had borderline hypertension. Of the hypertensive subjects; males were more affected than females; and blood pressure rose progressively with age. There was also a tendency towards higher blood pressures in obese subjects with body mass index (BMI) 27 kg/m2 and above. Males in the age group 40-49 years had the highest prevalence. The prevalence of hypertension in this selected group of urban subjects is high. An urban community survey of hypertension is required to determine the prevalence in the community as a whole