ABC | Volume 113, Nº4, October 2019

Original Article Prevalence of Systemic Arterial Hypertension and Associated Factors Among Adults from the Semi-Arid Region of Pernambuco, Brazil Emerson Rogério Costa Santiago, 1 Alcides da Silva Diniz, 1 Juliana Souza Oliveira, 2 Vanessa Sá Leal, 2 Maria Izabel Siqueira de Andrade, 1 Pedro Israel Cabral de Lira 1 Universidade Federal de Pernambuco - Programa de Pós-graduação em Nutrição, 1 Recife, PE – Brazil Universidade Federal de Pernambuco - Núcleo de Nutrição, 2 Vitória de Santo Antão, PE – Brazil Mailing Address: Emerson Rogério Costa Santiago • Universidade Federal de Pernambuco - Programa de Pós-graduação em Nutrição – Av. Prof. Moraes Rêgo, 1235. Postal Code 50670-901, Recife, PE – Brazil E-mail: emersoncostasantiago@gmail.com Manuscript received July 03, 2018, revised manuscript November 18, 2018, accepted January 23, 2019 DOI: 10.5935/abc.20190145 Abstract Background: Systemic arterial hypertension is a substantial public health problem responsible for millions of deaths per year worldwide. However, little is known about the epidemiology of this disease in areas distant from large urban centers in Brazil. Such information is necessary to plan health promotion strategies. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of hypertension and determine its associated factors in adults residing in the semi-arid region of the state of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil. Method: This is a cross-sectional study conducted with a random sample of male and female adults. Individuals with systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mm/Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mm/Hg and those who reported being under treatment with antihypertensive drugs were considered hypertensive. We collected data on demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and anthropometric characteristics, as well as health and nutrition. The statistical analysis used Pearson’s chi-square test, the chi-square test for trend, and multivariate Poisson regression analysis. A p-value < 0.05 in the final model was considered indicative of statistical significance. Results: The sample consisted of 416 individuals, and the prevalence of hypertension was 27.4% (95%CI 23.2 – 32.0). In the final model, the independent predictors of hypertension were age of 40 years or older (p = 0.000), low economic class (p = 0.007), smoking (p = 0.023), overweight determined by the body mass index (p = 0.003), and reduced glucose tolerance/diabetes mellitus (p = 0.012). Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension was high and related to important risk factors. Thus, prevention and control strategies are recommended. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2019; 113(4):687-695) Keywords: Hypertension/prevention and control; Prevalence; Cardiovascular Diseases; Epidemiology; Blood Pressure; Risk Factors. Introduction Systemic arterial hypertension is a substantial public health problem around the world and the most common clinical condition found in primary care. 1,2 This condition is responsible for approximately 9.4 million deaths per year worldwide. 3 It is not only one of the major risk factors for other cardiovascular diseases, 2 but also a syndrome with its manifestations, characteristics, and multifactor etiology. 4 The prevalence of hypertension increased from approximately 25.9% of the global adult population at the beginning of the 21 st century to 31.1% in 2010, a 5.2% increase in ten years. 5 In developed countries, however, a 2.6% reduction occurred in this period, whereas developing countries faced a 7.7% increase. 5 In Brazil, studies compiling data from several cities report that hypertension affects approximately 30% of the adult population, corresponding to 36 million individuals. 4,6,7 Analyzing the distribution of the disease in the country, the north and northeast regions have the lowest rates of hypertension. 8 However, this type of information is scarce in these regions due to the low number of surveys addressing the epidemiology of this condition. 9 The semi-arid region covers a large area of Brazil, especially in the northeast part of the country. This region is often hit by crises related to long periods of drought. Besides the low socioeconomic development of the region, this situation can contribute to an increase in chronic non-communicable diseases. 10,11 Nevertheless, little is known about the epidemiology of hypertension and its geographic distribution in populations living distant from large Brazilian urban centers and in mesoregions, such as the semi-arid region. Considering the need for information that can assist in improving and optimizing public health services and actions, the present study aimed to estimate the prevalence 687