Prevalence of Systemic Arterial Hypertension and Associated Factors Among Adults from the Semi-Arid Region of Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract Background: Systemic arterial hypertension is a substantial public health problem responsible for millions of deaths per year worldwide. However, little is known about the epidemiology of this disease in areas distant from large urban centers in Brazil. Such information is necessary to plan health promotion strategies. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of hypertension and determine its associated factors in adults residing in the semi-arid region of the state of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil. Method: This is a cross-sectional study conducted with a random sample of male and female adults. Individuals with systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mm/Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mm/Hg and those who reported being under treatment with antihypertensive drugs were considered hypertensive. We collected data on demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and anthropometric characteristics, as well as health and nutrition. The statistical analysis used Pearson’s chi-square test, the chi-square test for trend, and multivariate Poisson regression analysis. A p-value < 0.05 in the final model was considered indicative of statistical significance. Results: The sample consisted of 416 individuals, and the prevalence of hypertension was 27.4% (95%CI 23.2 - 32.0). In the final model, the independent predictors of hypertension were age of 40 years or older (p = 0.000), low economic class (p = 0.007), smoking (p = 0.023), overweight determined by the body mass index (p = 0.003), and reduced glucose tolerance/diabetes mellitus (p = 0.012). Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension was high and related to important risk factors. Thus, prevention and control strategies are recommended.

摘要：
背景：系统性动脉高血压（Systemic arterial hypertension）是一项重大公共卫生问题，每年在全球范围内造成数百万例死亡。然而，目前针对巴西远离大型城市中心区域的高血压流行病学特征，相关研究仍较为匮乏。此类数据对于制定健康促进策略而言不可或缺。
目的：估算巴西东北部伯南布哥州半干旱地区成年居民的高血压患病率，并明确其相关影响因素。
方法：本研究为横断面研究，纳入男女成年人群的随机抽样样本。将收缩压≥140毫米汞柱（mm Hg）和/或舒张压≥90毫米汞柱，以及自述正在接受降压药物治疗的个体判定为高血压患者。研究收集了研究对象的人口学、社会经济、行为学、人体测量学特征，以及健康与营养相关数据。统计分析采用皮尔逊卡方检验、趋势卡方检验及多因素泊松回归分析。最终模型中p值<0.05被认定为具有统计学显著性。
结果：本研究共纳入416名研究对象，高血压患病率为27.4%（95%置信区间Confidence Interval, CI：23.2 - 32.0）。最终模型显示，高血压的独立预测因素包括：年龄≥40岁（p=0.000）、低经济阶层（p=0.007）、吸烟（p=0.023）、经体质量指数（Body Mass Index, BMI）判定的超重（p=0.003），以及糖耐量减低/糖尿病（p=0.012）。
结论：该地区高血压患病率较高，且与多项重要危险因素密切相关。因此，推荐制定针对性的高血压预防与控制策略。