Hypertension, diabetes, and obesity in Barbados: findings from a recent population-based survey.

A stratified random sample of 464 persons aged 40 to 79 years, drawn from enumeration registers in the Bridgetown area of Barbados, participated in this survey. The prevalence of hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure of at least 160 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure of at least 95 mm Hg, or use of antihypertensive medication) was 47% and 43% for women and men, respectively. Diabetes was present in 17% of all subjects (18% of women and 15% of men). Of the 209 hypertensive subjects, 82% were aware of their blood pressure status. The proportion of previously diagnosed hypertensive subjects on medication was 72% for men and 68% for women. Fifty-three percent of men and 42% of women were overweight (body mass indices [weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared] between 25 and 30). However, 30% of women and 10% of men were obese (body mass indices over 30), supporting the growing recognition of the marked gender disparity in obesity among persons of African origin in the Caribbean. Body mass index was positively associated with hypertension (OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.1-1.6). Obese persons experienced a 2.6 times greater risk of hypertension compared to those with body mass indices below 25. Similar statistically significant associations were observed between diabetes and body mass index: OR comparing body mass index over 30 with body mass index under 25 was 2.5 (95% CI: 1.3-5.1) for all subjects, 1.0 (0.3-4.1) for men only, and 5.2 (1.9-14) for women only. Preventing obesity in this population could reduce the incidence of hypertension and diabetes by approximately 30% and 33% among men and women, respectively.