HYPERTENSION IN THE BLACK-COMMUNITY OF THE CAPE PENINSULA, SOUTH-AFRICA

Hypertension prevalence, treatment status and factors relating to high blood pressure were determined in an urban black community of the Cap e Peninsula, South Africa, A study population of 986 subjects aged 15 - 64 years was randomly selected, Blood pressure, height, weight and s erum cholesterol levels were measured, while demographic information, personal and family history relating to hypertension and attendance of health services were determined by questionnaire, Overall 9.2% of mal es and 12.9% of females were hypertensive according to WHO criteria. B lood pressures between 160/95 and 140/90 mmHg were found in 10% of mal es and 10.5% of females. The treatment status of hypertensives showed that 24.3% had a blood pressure below 160/95 mmHg, and 16% below 140/9 0 mmHg, Hypertensives used more alcohol and were more overweight than normotensives. Multiple logistic regression revealed that hypertension was independently related to age, being overweight and more urbanised . The degree of urbanisation also predicted to what extent hypertensio n prevalence increases with age, This black population had low hyperte nsion rates compared with other similar groups in South Africa, These data suggest that as rural blacks increasingly undergo urbanisation, h ypertension prevalence increases, Necessary diagnostic and treatment r egimens and hypertension services are not yet in place in the South Af rican health services, and need to be established.