PREVALENCE RATE AND AWARENESS OF HYPERTENSION IN THE DIFFERENT SOCIAL LEVELS AMONG RURAL INHABITANTS

Abstract

Hypertension is a common condition and is an important public health problem in all countries of the world (Gross et a!, 1984). Arterial pressure is a quantity and the relationship between arterial pressure and mortality is quantitative; the higher the pressure, the worse the prognosis. Life expectancy in each age group and in each sex decreases as arterial pressure increases (Pickering, 1990).

Hypertension is the most important risk factor for stroke, and improved management, and treatment of hypertension has been proposed as the main reason for the recent decline in mortality from stroke, (The Veterans Administration Cooperative Study, 1970; The Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial, 1982; Bonita and Beaglahole, 1986).

Numerous epidemiological studies have identified the risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in the industrialized world (Kannel et al, 1981; Kannel, 1987; WHO MONICA Project, 1969). These risk factors include hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, cigarette smoking and dietary intake of saturated fats (Weinberger, 1987).