OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to study the prevalence of hypertension in apparently healthy women community with a view preparing a program for primary prevention of hypertension. METHODS: The population survey involved a representative sample of mothers of 126.800 students enrolled at schools of Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Pernambuco, Brasil. The population size (1.273 students) was selected from a 5%±2% expected frequency of the hypertension in children with a confidence level of 99.9%. This study comprised 21 schools and a random sample of 986 mothers of 1.601 students). Two blood pressure measurements separeted by 2 minutes were carried out in the schools on two subsequent visits. The corporal mass index was determined in 893 mothers. In a group of 671 mothers, a midstream urine specimen was colected and the dip - stick was used to assess the presence of urinary abnormalities. RESULTS: The prevalence of the hypertension was 27.7% and it was significantly higher (p<0.01) in overweight (28.5%) and obese women (57%) than normal weight women (14%) and underweight women (12%). There was significant difference regarding the presence of glucosuria between the hypertensives and the normotensives women (3% and 0%, respectively). In a group of 62 hipertensives women with followup at 3 to 12 month interval, the blood pressure has been controlled in 13 (21%) and remains below the initial hipertensive stage in 27 (43.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of hypertension (27,7%) do agree with the data in the literature concerning hypertension in women (26%), showing a higher tendency in overweight and obese women. We are continuing the followup of the hypertensive women as well as developing a community program for primary prevention of hypertension in the target population.
Hypertension; Epidemiology; Prevention; Corporal mass index; Urinary abnormalities
