High Prevalence of Prehypertension and Hypertension in a Working Population in Hungary

• Published in: American journal of hypertension Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 204 - 208
• Main Authors: Sonkodi, Balazs, Sonkodi, Sandor, Steiner, Sabine, Helis, Eftyhia, Turton, Penelope, Zachar, Peter, Abrahám, György, Legrady, Péter, Fodor, J. George
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Oxford University Press 01-02-2012; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adult; Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use; Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Body Height; Body Weight; Cardiology. Vascular system; Clinical manifestations. Epidemiology. Investigative techniques. Etiology; Female; Heart Rate; Humans; Hungary - epidemiology; Hypertension - drug therapy; Hypertension - epidemiology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Prehypertension - epidemiology; Prevalence; Smoking - epidemiology; Hungary; blood pressure screening; blood pressure; Hungary; hypertenstion; prehypertension; worksites; Hypertension; Prevalence; Cardiovascular disease; Arterial pressure; Blood pressure; Medical screening
• ISSN: 0895-7061; 1941-7225; 1879-1905
• DOI: 10.1038/ajh.2011.199

Background:
Hungary has one of the highest mortality rates due to strokes among the European Union countries. As elevated blood pressure (BP) is the principal risk factor for strokes, we assessed BP levels, as well as awareness and treatment status of hypertension and prehypertension in a working population sample in Hungary.
Methods
Worksite employees in Budapest and Szeged were screened for their BP using an automated BP measuring instrument (BpTRU). BpTRU readings of heart rate (HR) were also recorded. Respondents were classified as normotensives (NT), prehypertensives (PHTN) and hypertensives (HTN) according to their BP levels, as defined by the JNC 7 guidelines. Body height and body weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Self-reported information regarding smoking was collected.
Results
In total, 2,012 respondents were recruited (1,000 white collar; 1,012 blue-collar workers), with a mean (±s.d.) age of 34.8 (±9.9) years. Of all respondents, 22.6% were identified as HTN and 39.8% as PHTN. Among HTN, 40% were unaware of their condition and only 18.5% were adequately treated. PHTN were similar in age as NT, but showed significantly higher HR.
Conclusions
A high proportion of relatively young and apparently healthy Hungarian employees were diagnosed with prehypertension and hypertension. Only a small proportion of HTN had their BP controlled. BMI and HR were significantly higher among individuals with prehypertension compared to NT. Whether the high rates of hypertension, prehypertension, and low levels of control explain the high stroke mortality and unfavorable cardiovascular disease (CVD) profile of Hungary needs further study.