The prevalence of hypertension in different geographical regions of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The results of the National Nutrition Survey of the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia showed that the prevalence of arterial hypertension (BP >/= 160/95 mmHg) among the adult population is 5.3% and 7.3% for systolic and diastolic hypertension, respectively. The objective of this study, which is part of the Survey, was to investigate if the diversified ecological nature of the life of the people of the Kingdom has an effect on the prevalence of arterial hypertension in the adult population in the different geographical regions of the Kingdom.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Survey was population-based, employing cluster sampling methods and household visits by health teams trained by the same investigators to avoid individual variations and ensure data validity. 2,556 families with 17,892 individuals of all ages were randomly selected from 12 areas according to the population distribution all over the Kingdom. The total number examined for BP with complete data amounted to 13,700 individuals, of whom 6,260 were adults (over 18 years of age). The WHO definition of arterial hypertension was used. Also used was the definition of 140/90 mmHg.

RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure hypertension (SBPH) showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.001) among the regions. The highest prevalence was found in Farasan (8.9%) and the lowest was reported from Asir (2.2%). There was a higher prevalence among females compared to males in the 40-75 year age group in all regions, except in the highlands of Al Taif and Asir. However, the difference was not statistically significant, except in Makkah (25.9%, P<0.001) and Al Sharikia (22%, P<0.03). Diastolic blood pressure hypert ension (DBPH) prevalence increased with age in all regions, except in males of Farasan, Makkah, and in females of Asir. The difference in the prevalence between regions was statistically significant (P<0.001). The highest DBPH prevalence (sexes combined) was reported from Al Qassim (10.6%) and the lowest from Makkah (4.2%). Using the definition of hypertension as 140/90 mmHg, the highest SBPH prevalence was reported from Makkah (sexes combined) (27.9%), while the lowest was from Makkah and Asir (22% each). The prevalence of SBPH and DBPH was insignificantly higher among females than males in eight and seven of the 12 regions, respectively.

CONCLUSION: There is a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of SBPH and DBPH in the different regions of the Kingdom (P<0.001). The prevalence pattern tends to be fairly similar to that found in the affluent societies in the Western countries.