Arterial Hypertension Prevalence in a Romanian Rural Community: Correlations with Social and Economic Status, Age and Gender
Arterial Hypertension Prevalence in a Romanian Rural Community: Correlations with Social and Economic Status, Age and Gender

Summary/Abstract: Throughout the world, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have become a major public health problem and have been recognized as a leading cause of death and disability in most developed and developing countries. Hypertension is the most important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, coronary artery disease, end-stage renal disease and heart failure. It is estimated that about 25% of the world’s adult population have hypertension, and it will be likely to increase to 29% by 2025. In Europe, an estimated 37% - 55% of the adult population is affected by hypertension. The primary aim of this cross-sectional study was to estimate the prevalence of arterial hypertension among adults (n = 2659) in a rural community of the North Romanian Region. A secondary aim was to identify the risk factors involved in hypertension. The study gathered information on sociodemographic conditions, history of diseases, habits and anthropometric parameters. The number of inhabitants in the records of the general practitioner (GP) who conducted the collaboration is 2659 people, of whom 1244 males (46.78%) and 1415 females (53.21%). The patients fulfilled defined diagnostic criteria for hypertension: systolic pressure >= 140 mmHg and/or diastolic pressure >= 90 mmHg, or have been diagnosed with hypertension or have taken antihypertensive drugs within two weeks. Patients with secondary hypertension were excluded. The mean age of the study group was 65.96 ± 11.93 years, the age varying between 26 and 92 years. Among these, 9.13% had increased blood pressure values, most of them having 1st or 2nd degree arterial hypertension. By diving the persons into 6 age categories, according to decades, normal blood pressure values were more frequently seen in age extremities (< 50 or > 80 years old). A positive relationship was obtained between arterial hypertension and obesity and a direct correlation between arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Stress was more pronounced in the active population where 38.6% of persons declared that they were stressed compared to only 18.3% in the retired population (p = 0.0001). The findings can contribute to strategies for improving health services to monitor and prevent cardiovascular events.

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