HYPERTENSION PREVALENCE AND AGE-RELATED-CHANGES OF BLOOD-PRESSURE IN SEMI-NOMADIC AND URBAN OROMOS OF ETHIOPIA

We evaluated the prevalence of hypertension and the age-related behavi our of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP ) in a wide sample of male and female Ethiopian Oromos living in rural or pre-industrial urbanized settings. Blood pressure (BP) was measure d in the sitting position after 5 min rest in 5277 Oromos. In the grou p, 4928 were semi-nomadic shepherds, while 349 came from a town of 60, 000 inhabitants where they were involved in low-technology jobs. The f irst subgroup was composed of 2482 men and 2446 women. All subjects we re divided into 3 age groups: 15-44, 45-64, and greater than or equal to 65 years. Body weight (BW) and the Quetelet index (QI) were matched to BP levels using Pearson's method. In semi-nomadic men, SBP was 121 .4 +/- 8.4 mmHg versus 132.4 +/- 10.4 mmHg in urban men (p < 0.001). I n women, SBP was 120.5 +/- 7.9 mmHg versus 128.1 +/- 10.1 mmHg (p < 0. 001). The prevalence of hypertension was 0.40% in the semi-nomadic and 3.15% in the urban population. In the latter, significant increases i n BW and QI were found, which were significantly correlated to both SB P and DBP. In semi-nomadic men, a 5.33% increase in BP and a 5.22% in DBP was found between age groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.001 in both). In urban men the increase was 4.77% and 3.41% respectively (p < 0.001). In bot h male populations no difference in SBP and DBP was observed between a ge groups 2 and 3. In semi-nomadic women however, a progressive rise i n SBP (4.84% between age groups 1 and 2, p < 0.001; 1.86% between grou ps 2 and 3, p < 0.001) and DBP (4.26% between age groups 1 and 2, p < 0.001; 2.72% between groups 2 and 3, p < 0.001) was present. Similar d ifferences in SBP and DBP were evident between urban women of age grou ps 1 and 2. Due to social reasons, women for group 3 were not availabl e in the urban setting. In conclusion, this study shows a very low pre valence of hypertension in a semi-nomadic group and about an 8-fold in crease in the urban population. SBP and DBP are significantly higher i n the urban setting and in both men and women the increase is related to BW Moreover, SBP and DBP progressively increase with age in women b ut not in men.