Karşıyaka Prevalance and Awareness of Hypertension Study (KARHIP)

Abstract

IntroductionHypertension is the most important current health problem and one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. 26.4 % of the adult population is hypertensive since year 2000 and this ratio is expected to increase to 29.2 % by the year 2025 [1]. It is estimated that 1.5 billion people all over the world are hypertensive and 9.4 million die every year due to hypertension [2]. Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for 50 % of all deaths and hypertension is directly responsible for 25% of all deaths in Turkey [3]. Therefore hypertension accounts for an important proportion of healthcare expenditure.Regional and national studies investigating hypertension prevalence in Turkey have been conducted since the 1960s. Turkish Hypertension Prevalence Studies have been conducted by Turkish Hypertension and Renal Diseases Association to assess current prevalence, distrubution, awareness, treatment and control rates comprehensively in our country. Demographic data, life style properties and accompanying risc factors are also investigated in this nationwide studies [4,5].The Karşıyaka Hypertension Prevalence and Awareness Study (KARHIP) was planned to assess potential differences in hypertension prevalence and hypertension related demographic * Corresponding author. E-mail: nihatpekel@gmail.com Abstract Background: The study was planned to assess potential differences in hypertension prevalance and hypertension related demographic properties in an urban area with relatively higher income and cultural population compared to the national average. Methods: Fieldwork was done by educated and dedicated personnel at Karsiyaka Municipality Building by one by one interviewing poll, blood pressure measurement, rhythm and body composition analysis in February 2014. Hypertension was defined as an average systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg or an average diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg. Results: Out of a total of 1417 (627 males and 790 females) people enrolled, 780 people were hypertensive (prevalence 55%). Hypertension prevalence in the middle age group (age 35-65) was 46% and in the geriatric age group (age>65) it was %79. 216 out of 780 hypertensive (27.7%) people were not aware of their disease. The proportion of people taking antihypertensive treatment was 69.4% and the proportion under control was 34.7%, whereas the control rate was 50.1% in 541 patients who were aware of their diseases. Conclusions: Hypertension prevalances in our study were similar to the PatenT 2 trial prevalances, which were 46 % for the middle age group and 78% for the geriatric age group. Compared to PatenT 2 data, the rate of hypertension awareness (54.7% vs 72.3%) and the rate of being under treatment (47.5% vs 69.4%) were higher. The rate of controlled hypertension was a little bit higher (28.7 % vs 34.7% ) in our group, whereas control rates in aware and treated groups were similar (53.9 % and 50.1 %) in both studies.