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Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, Vol. 19, No. 2,
3-9 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/10105395070190020201
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Undetected Elevated Blood Pressure in an Elderly Southeast Asian Population
V. Joshi, MSc, PhD
Singapore Health Services Research, Singapore, veena.d.joshi{at}singhealth.com.sg
J. Lim, MBBS, MRCS
National Kidney Foundation, Singapore
M. Nandkumar, MRCP, FAMS
Singapore Health Services Research, Singapore
Data on the prevalence of Hypertension (HTN) among elderly Asians is limited. We investigated the prevalence of elevated blood pressure (EBP) and its risk factors in a multiracial Southeast Asian elderly population who participated in the National Kidney Foundation Singapore nationwide screening programme. Among 19,848 subjects 65 years (approximately 6% of the total Singapore population), the mean age was 70.6 ± 5.26 yrs. After excluding 36.6% with known HTN, analysis revealed that 5,889 (46.8%) of the remaining population had previously undetected EBP >140/ 90. Increasing age, male gender, BMI 23 kg/m2 and pre-existing diabetes were significantly associated with previously undetected EBP on multivariate analysis. 6% of cases with undetected EBP had proteinuria suggestive of longstanding EBP and renal damage. We conclude that there is a high prevalence of undetected EBP in elderly Asians, suggesting the need for increased e forts in screening in the elderly population. Asia Pac J Public Health 2007; 19(2): 3—9.
Key Words: Hypertension BMI proteinuria and elderly population.

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