Българска Лига по Хипертония

PREVALENCE AND AWARNESS OF ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION, AND CONCOMITANT CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN BULGARIAN POPULATION

Stefan Naydenov, Svetla Torbova, Konstantin Ramshev, Svetlin Tsonev, Nayda Naydenov, Snejanka Tisheva

Objective: Assessment of prevalence and awareness about arterial hypertension (AH) and other concomitant cardiovascular risk factors (RF) – obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM), dyslipidemia, salt consumption in the Bulgarian population

Design and method: A cross-sectional population study, devoted to the World Hypertension Day organized by the Bulgarian Hypertension League on May 17th May, 2011; 1831 volunteers from 58 different cities, towns and villages were screened – 764 males and 1067 females, mean age 54.3±18.1 years. On open-air stands blood pressure (BP), blood sugar (BS), waist circumference (WaC), height and weight were measured and body-mass index (BMI) calculated by students in Medicine. A structured questionnaire was completed, containing questions about lifestyle, awareness and presence of cardiovascular risk factors.

Results: History of AH was found in 793 (45.9%), BP<140/90 was found in 128 (37.8%) of people with established AH. New-detected AH was present in 24. 8% of the participants who considered themselves normotensive; 499 of the males(76.4%) and 800 of the females (79.1%), p<0.001 were informed of the threshold values above which BP is considered to be high. Of all participants 1306 (77.2%) knew their own BP; 383 (26.8%) of all participants were informed about their WaC and 74 (7.3%) knew their BMI. Increased WaC (> 94 cm for males and >80 cm for females) was found in 1073 (58.6%), BMI>25 was found in 1054 (57.6%). Diabetes mellitus was found in 177 (10.0%) participants, dyslipidemia – in 438 (25.2%); 1029 (78.9%) of all participants were informed about admissible daily amount of salt consumption.

Conclusions: Prevalence of AH and comcomitant cardiovascular risk factors in Bulgarian population is high and the control is still low. Awareness about AH is relatively high, but unsatisfactory about other important indicators for cardiovascular risk.

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CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN BULGARIAN URBAN POPULATION WITH NEW-DETECTED ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Stefan Naydenov, Svetla Torbova, Yoto Yotov, Konstantin Ramshev, Diana Tchinarska, Snejanka Tisheva, Elena Shipkovenska

Bulgaria is an Eastern European country with high total and cardiovascular (CV) mortality. Arterial hypertension (AH) is a major risk factor for CV complications. Data from national epidemiological studies confirmed it for Bulgaria too. There are no data about risk profile of the population with newly diagnosed arterial hypertension.

Objective: to evaluate the prevalence of additional CV risk factors in Bulgarian population with newly diagnosed AH.

Design and methods: 2514 people volunteered in a cross-sectional study, which was held on the World Hypertension Day – May 17th in the five largest Bulgarian cities. Blood pressure (BP) was measured, body-mass index (BMI) calculated by medical students and a structured questionnaire completed by the participants.

Results: 525 (17%) of the screened participants had new-detected AH. The concomitant CV risk factors in these patients were: active smoking – 173 (33 %), obesity (BMI≥30) – 94 (18%), overweight (BMI 26-29) – 220 (42%), increased daily salt consumption (>6 g) – 204 (39%), increased consumption of animal fat and unsatisfactory fish consumption – 236 (45%). Prevalence of these risk factors was significantly less in normotensive participants, p.<0,0001. One additional risk factor in the participants with newly detected high BP was present in 367 (70%) with new-detected AH, 2 risk factors – in 105 (20%), 3 and more risk factors – in 10 (2%).

Conclusions: The Bulgarian population, with newly detected AH has clustering of concomitant risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. More efforts are necessary in this area of primary prevention, concerning healthy lifestyle and regular BP measurement.