Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and risk factors associated with hypertension in the Iranian population: the national survey of risk factors for noncommunicable diseases of Iran.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of hypertension in the Middle East is not well defined. We examined the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Iran. METHODS: The Survey of Risk Factors of Noncommunicable Diseases was conducted in 2005 and contains a representative sample of the Iranian adult population. Of 70,981 participants, the data of 68,250 adults aged 25-64 years who had two valid blood pressure (BP) readings were analyzed to estimate the total prevalence of hypertension (systolic BP >or= 140 mm Hg, diastolic BP >or= 90 mm Hg, or the concurrent use of antihypertensive agents) in the Iranian adult population. RESULTS: Approximately 25% or 6.6 million Iranians aged 25-64 years had hypertension; additionally 46% or 12 million Iranians aged 25-64 years had prehypertension. Among hypertensive patients, 34% were aware of their elevated BP; 25% were taking antihypertensive medications; and of these treated subjects, only 24% had BP values <140/90 mm Hg. Hypertension and prehypertension were associated with age, male gender, obesity, central obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension is high, and the rates of awareness, treatment, and control are unacceptably low. These results underscore the urgent need to develop national strategies to improve prevention, detection, and treatment of hypertension in Iran.

Prevalence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose in the adult population of Iran: National Survey of Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Diseases of Iran.

OBJECTIVE: Despite concerns regarding a diabetes epidemic in the Middle East, internationally published data on national estimates of prevalent type 2 diabetes in Iran do not exist. With this article, we document a dramatically high prevalence of diabetes in Iran. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Our data are based on the results of the first Survey of Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases of Iran, 2005. In this national cross-sectional survey, 70,981 Iranian citizens aged 25-64 years were recruited. RESULTS: We found that 7.7% of adults aged 25-64 years, or 2 million adults, have diabetes, among whom one-half are undiagnosed. An additional 16.8%, or 4.4 million, of Iranian adults have impaired fasting glucose. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of diabetes in working-age adults is an ominous sign for this developing nation. As the relatively young Iranian population ages in the future and urbanization continues or accelerates, the prevalence of diabetes will likely escalate.