Background: International studies have reported increased prevalence of hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors, Our aim was to study the distribution and the correlates of hypertension (HTN - systolic or diastolic) in a community based survey (National Health Survey, 2000).
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of the health status of Omani community was designed. Face to face interview including demographic data, blood pressure measurement, fasting blood glucose and serum cholesterol, weight, height, waist and hip measurement for 7011 Omani subjects with a response rate ranging between about 83% (for fasting blood glucose) to about 91% (for blood pressure measurement).
Results: The crude prevalence of HTN was 33.1%, while the age-adjusted prevalence was 38.3%. Older age groups, male gender, lower level of education, non- working, hypercholestremia, being married, obese, smoker, or having abnormal Waist Hip Ratio (WHR), or Total Impaired fasting glucose (TIFG) were found to be associated with hypertension in bivariate analysis. Logistic models were run to identify the adjusted Odds Ratio for the overall sample, for separate genders and age groups. For the overall sample, subjects aged 60 and above were 5.4 times more likely to be hypertensive than those below forty. Female gender was a protective factor in the overall sample, while it increased the risk by 1.4 times among those aged 60+. Obese or centrally obese subjects were also more likely to be hypertensive. Subjects with impaired fasting glucose, diabetes, or hyperchlosteremia were more likely to have hypertension than others in the majority of the logistic regression models.
Conclusion: Hypertension is considered a major public health problem in Oman. Increasing the awareness of both health care providers and the community is crucial.