[Epidemiologic and social aspects of arterial hypertension in subjects of young age (according to the data of examination of organized groups of employees in Smolensk].

AIM

To study prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) in young Smolensk population sample, AH risk factors, awareness of the patients about their disease, treatment compliance.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The in-office study covered 1068 employees. In diagnosis of AH, the patient answered the questions about AH risk factors, attitude to treatment.

RESULTS

All was highly prevalent in the examined population (27.9%). Patients under 45 years of age accounted for 38.9% of all the examinees with AH. The risk factors included overweight and obesity (65.5%), smoking (53.5%), family AH history (52.6%). In spite of high awareness about AH (72.4%) and opinion about AH as an important social problem, young patients demonstrate low treatment compliance (12%). This is explained by psychological features of such patients.

CONCLUSION

It is necessary to examine quality of life of AH patients aged under 45 years, setting up of special schools to maintain educational activity, psychological and rehabilitation care.