ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of arterial hypertension (H) and its distribution according to gender, age group, body mass index (BMI) in the population of Maracaibo, Venezuela. 7.424 subjects were included, 3.640 males (M) and 3.784 females (F). Information was collected by means of domiciliary visits with a History and Physical Exam designed for this purpose. H was defined as Systolic Blood Pressure > or = 140 mmHg and/or Diastolic Blood Pressure > or = 90 mmHg. A prevalence of 36.9% of H in the total sample was found with a higher prevalence in M, 45.2%, than in F 28.9%. It increased progressively with age in both genders. Only 4.5% of hypertensive patients were well controlled, 41.2% of patients diagnosed as hypertensive, were not well controlled (DBP > or = 90 mmHg), and 54.3% hypertensives did not know about their condition. Patients with BMI > or = 25 Kg/m2 had a prevalence twice as patients with BMI < 25 Kg/m2 (47.6% Vs 24.2%). It is concluded that H is a serious problem of public health because of it's high prevalence and lack of control, and it is necessary to implement educational and medical programs for the detection and control of this disease.
