Prevalence, awareness and control of hypertension in estate workers in Malaysia

BACKGROUND: Hypertension continues to be a major causative factor contributing to cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal morbidity and mortality. AIM: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence, awareness and control of hypertension in the estate population in Johor, Malaysia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A mercury sphygmomanometer was used to record systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Cross sectional population survey was carried out in the study. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of hypertension in 903 subjects studied was 26.91% (243). A higher prevalence 27.65 % (133) was found in males against 26.07% (110) in females. Awareness of the disease was present in only 39% (96) of which 86.45% (83) received treatment. Among those who received treatment, control of hypertension was present in 15.66% (13). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hypertension among the estate population is lower than that of the general population of Malaysia, which can be attributed to their regular physical activity but the awareness, treatment, control and follow-up of patients is disappointingly low.