Lack of difference in blood pressure between the urban and rural population in Lesotho, Africa.

In this preliminary study, blood pressure and associated factors were studied in 233 urban and 194 rural Basotho's, aged 18 to 88 years. Blood pressure was shown to increase with age in both sexes, but no significant differences were noted between urban and rural men. A significant in difference diastolic BP was seen between urban and rural women aged 18 to 34 years, (p < 0.01), and women over 55 years (p < 0.05) but this did not correlate with the Body Mass Index (BMI). Significant difference in BMI between men and women was seen in the 18 to 34 years, 35 to 54 years age groups, (p < 0.001), and the over 55 years group (p < 0.05). However, significant blood pressure differences between men and women were only seen in the 18 to 34 years group, in which men who had a lower BMI had a significantly higher blood pressure (p < 0.001) than women with a higher BMI. Prevalence of 14.9 pc rural, 12.4 pc urban hypertension was seen. This may be partly contributed by diet and urbanisation of rural Basothos. Further studies into factors contributing to hypertension should be carried out in Lesotho.