2 Parameter Mean age (years Mean BMI (Kg/m2) Mean WC (cm) Mean WHR Mean SBP (mmHg) Mean DBP (mmHg) Mean MAP (mmHg) International Journal of Hypertension Table 1: Characteristics of the study population. All subjects N = 688 38.02 ± 13.32 26.05 ± 5.03 86.48 ± 13.82 0.88 ± 0.08 129.21 ± 20.77 84.51 ± 14.50 99.36 ± 16.22 Male N = 354 39.62 ± 13.69 25.14 ± 4.01 85.64 ± 12.16 0.90 ± 0.08 130.99 ± 19.82 85.39 ± 14.32 100.43 ± 16.07 Female N = 334 36.31 ± 12.72 27.00 ± 5.77 87.34 ± 15.01 0.86 ± 0.08 127.32 ± 21.60 83.58 ± 14.66 98.23 ± 16.32 P value .001 <.001 .136 <.001 .020 .102 .075 Abbreviations. BMI: body mass index, WC: waist circumference, WHR: waist-hip-ratio, SBP: systolic blood pressure, DBP: diastolic blood pressure, MAP: mean arterial pressure. was completed on behalf of each respondent. The question- naire addressed biodata, family history of hypertension and habits and practices that aﬀect hypertension and educational status. The educational status of the study population was assessed using the highest educational attainment catego- rized as no education, primary school education, secondary school education, and tertiary education. Stage 2, anthro- pometric data collection and dipstick urine test for protein and sugar. Stage 3, measurement of blood pressure and pulse. Stage 4, counselling and referral to hospital. Hypertension was deﬁned and classiﬁed according to the WHO/ISH guidelines [10]. Blood pressure was taken from the nondominant arm after 10 minutes of rest using appropriate cuﬀ size and Accoson brand of mercury sphygmomanometer. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressures (DBP) were the ﬁrst and ﬁfth Korotkoﬀ sounds, respectively. The mean of three readings, ﬁve minutes apart, was determined. Hypertension was deﬁned as SBP greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and/or DBP equal to or greater than 90 mmHg [11]. Hypertension was classiﬁed thus: (i) mild: SBP 140–159 mmHg and/or DBP 90–99 mmHg; (ii) moderate: SBP 160–179 mmHg and/or DBP 100– 109 mmHg; (iii) severe: SBP ≥ 180 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 110 mmHg. The body mass index (BMI) of Quetelet was calculated using weight in kilogram divided by the square of the height in metre. The BMI was classiﬁed using the WHO classiﬁca- tion of BMI [12]. Waist circumference was measured midway between the iliac crest and the lower most margin of the ribs with bare belly and at the end of normal expiration, and the hip girth was measured at the intertrochanteric level according to the WHO guidelines. The waist-hip ratio was also calculated using standard method. WHR > 0.85 for females and > 0.90 for males were considered abnormal [13]. The waist circumference of >80 cm for females and 94 cm for male respondents were considered abnormal [13]. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SSPS Inc, Chicago, IL) version 15.0 statistical software was used for data analysis. For continuous variables, mean values and standard deviations were calculated and the means compared using ANOVA or two sample t-test. Categorical variables were compared using the nonparametric tests- Chi-squares. The cross-tabulation was used to analyze the relationship between the BMI, grades of blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and sex in the respondents. Pearson’s correlation for parametric and Spearman’ rho correlation for nonparametric data were used to assess the relationship between age, blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and anthro- pometric data in respondents. Signiﬁcant variables were further analyzed using the stepwise method of multiple linear regression analysis to isolate predictors of SBP and DBP. All tests were two-tailed with P < .05 taken as statistically signiﬁcant. 3. Results A total of 731 (379 male and 352 female) were screened and 688 (354 males and 334 females) had analyzable data. Forty nine could not be analyzed because of incomplete data. The characteristics of the study population are shown in Table 1. Analysis showed that all participants achieved some level of education with the following distribution: 65.7% achieved primary school education, 25.4% achieved secondary school education and 8.9% achieved tertiary education. For all the respondents, 42.2% were found to be hypertensive (males 46.3%, females 37.7%) More males than females had hypertension, P = .022. Of this number, 29.4% (males 30.8%, females 27.7%) knew they were hypertensive prior to the screening and 70.6% (males 81.0%, females 62.1%) were diagnosed at the screening, Figure 1. The screening further showed that 69.5% had normal SBP (<140 mmHg) whereas 30.5% had elevated SBP (140–159— 18.5%; 160–179—9.6%; ≥180—2.5%). Also 61.3% had normal DBP (<90 mmHg) whereas 38.7% had elevated DBP (90–99—16.3%; 100–109—14.4%; ≥110–8.0%). Prevalence of hypertension increased with age ranging from 5.4% in the less than 20 years age group to 80% in the ≥70 years age group, (Figure 2). Only 4.3% of the respondents had proteinuria. The rest, 95.7%, had no proteinuria. Also only 3.0% had glycosuria. Forty-six percent of the respondents had normal BMI (18.5–24.99), and 22.6% were obese with BMI ≥ 30.