Survey on Prevalence of Cardiac Disease and its Risk Factors in Adults in Turkey: 5. Hypertension and Smoking

In a survey conducted on a representative random sample of the Turkish adult population comprising 3689 persons 20 years of age or older residing in 59 communities, the blood pressure was twice measured at an interval of 3 minutes, and the mean value was taken into account. Following mean values were obtained when standardized for age range 35-64 with WHO criteria: 125/80 mmHg in men, 133/82 in women. Hypertension was defined as a mean reading of ?160 mmHg systolic and/or?90 mmHg diastolic or a pressure controlled by drug treatment Eleven % of adult men and 16.5 % of women were hypertensive, this prevalence rose to 26 % and 40 %, respectively, in men and women aged 50 or older. In international comparison, whereas the risk arising from blood pressure appeared limited in Turkish men, it was moderately high in Turkish women, the latter being mainly due to a high prevalence of obesity. No significant difference was noted in the mean blood pressure between urban and rural residents. Half of adult Turkish men smoked daily more than 10 cigarettes, and one-tenth smoked up to 10 cigarettes. Seven % of women smoked over 10 cigarettes and 12 % up to 10 cigarettes daily. Though significantly less rural women consumed tobacco than their urban counterparts, one of every three urban women aged 20-49 was a habitual smoker. The overall risk of Turkish men arising from smoking was considered high.