Introduction:

The high blood pressure (HBP) is a frequent reason for consultation in health services and it is one of the most common diseases that affects adult individuals in all parts of the world. Its epidemiological characterization is very important to prevent risks.

Objectives:

To determine the prevalence of HBP, its strength of association with some epidemiological and lifestyle variables, and its percentage population attributable risk.

Method:

A retrospective analytical observational epidemiological research (cases and controls) was conducted to determine the strength of association of some variables related to HBP in the population of 15 or more years of age.

Results:

The punctual prevalence rate of high blood pressure was 111.5 × 103. Caucasian patients predominated, in the age group between 45-59 years, without sex differences. The most prevalent modifiable risk factors were the ingestion of salt, the consumption of coffee, the non-practice of physical exercise and the habit of smoking. The highest percentage population attributable risk figures corresponded to the ingestion of salt, the non-practice of physical exercise and obesity.

Conclusions:

The overweight, obesity, increased consumption of salt, little or no practice of physical exercise, excessive consumption of coffee, smoking, personal pathological history of diabetes mellitus, regardless of type, and family history of high blood pressure showed a causal association with HBP and, therefore, with the risk of suffering some of its complications, mainly cardio-cerebrovascular and renal.

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