Correlation between hypertension and income distribution among United Arab Emirates population.

To determine the correlation between hypertension and income distribution among United Arab Emirates (UAE) population. Case-control study matched for age, sex, nationality and education. The survey included 500 hypertensive adults aged 20-65 years ascertained from Primay Health Care (PHC) Clinics along with a randomly selected sample of 500 control subjects from the community. Face-to-face interviews were done where data were gathered on socio-demographic-economic status (SES) and lifestyle habits. Hypertension was defined according to WHO criteria as having Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) > or = 140 mm Hg and/or Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) > or = 90 mm Hg and/or being on antihypertensive treatment. The survey was carried out in urban and semi-urban PHC Clinics. A total of 818 subjects were included in this study from a sample of 1000; 409 cases and 409 controls. There were 422 males and 396 females in this study, with 255 UAE nationals and 438 expatriates. Hypertension was found to be significantly higher among the low income group (35.2% vs. 24.9% controls, p = 0.002; while mean SBP in the low income group was 130.2 +/- 17.6 vs. 128.0 +/- 17.4 controls, p = 0.022). Among males, smoking and alcohol consumption were higher among the group with low income level but only smoking showed significant difference (p value = 0.016). Activity level was higher among the low income groups. This study supports the importance of socio-economic factors as an income distribution effect on life-style habits and hypertension.