Prevalence of high blood pressure levels and associated factors among adults in Southern Brazil

Few population-based studies have been carried out in Brazilian medium-sized cities in order to estimate high levels of blood pressure and associated factors. To estimate the prevalence of high blood pressure and associated factors among adults in Lages,Southern Brazil. Population-based cross sectional study carried out in adults aged 20 to 59 years living in the urban area (n=2,022). The dependent variable was high levels of blood pressure (> or = 140/90 mmHg). Exploratory variables: sex, age, schooling, per capita family income, self-reported ethnicity, body mass index, tobacco and alcohol addiction, physical activity and self-reported diabetes. The Chi-square test and linear trends were used to test associations between the dependent variable and the exploratory variables. Unadjusted and adjusted multivariate Poisson regression analyses were performed. Response rate was 98.6%. The prevalence of high blood pressure levels was 33.7% (95CI%: 31.7-36.1) for the population as a whole, ranging from 31.1% in men to 38.1% in women. After statistical adjustment for possible confounders, the following were associated with high blood pressure levels: male gender (PR =1.22 95%CI 1.1-1.4), older age, overweight (PR= 1.40 95%CI 1.18-1.67), obesity (PR = 1.95 95% CI 1.61-2.36), Asian ethnicity (PR 1.29 95%CI 1.12-1.48) and self-reported diabetes mellitus (PR 1.29 95%CI 1.12-1.48). One third of the assessed adults presented high blood pressure levels, similar to most of the Brazilian findings. Factors that can be prevented, such as overweight, obesity and self-reported diabetes were associated with high blood pressure levels.