Prevalence and determinants of hypertension in the Algerian Sahara

BACKGROUND: In-Salah is a city-oasis located in the middle of the Algerian Sahara, a desert area whose drinking water has a high sodium content. No cardiovascular epidemiological studies have ever been conducted in this region. METHODS: A randomized sample of 635 men and 711 women, aged 40-99 years, was studied. Blood pressure measurements, combined with a clinical questionnaire that included educational and socio-economic data, and standard blood samples for the detection of dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus, were collected. RESULTS: The mean age was 55 ± 12 years. The prevalence of hypertension was 44% and was highly influenced by age, sex, skin colour, educational status, obesity and metabolic parameters. The higher prevalence of hypertension among black individuals was independent of socio-economic and educational levels, and of metabolic parameters. The presence of antihypertensive treatment was three times more frequent in women than in men, and there was no difference according to skin colour. Among treated subjects, 25% were well controlled, and this percentage was similar among both black and white individuals. CONCLUSION: Epidemiological studies in such an emergent population indicate that hypertension is a major public health problem. The high sodium content in drinking water in this region could play a major role in the development of hypertension. © 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.