Hypertension prevalence in active working population in the Balearic Islands: gender and age socioeconomic inequalities and differences

Background: Social class determined from occupation is one of the most important social determinants of health. Many studies confirm the influence of working conditions on the health of individuals and the acquisition of cardiovascular risk factors such as arterial hypertension. Aims: To determine the prevalence of hypertension in active working population and to analyze whether social class differences change with age and gender. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study in a sample of 1,910 workers aged 20-65 years in the Balearic Islands. The following study variables were collected: social class, anthropometric measurements, lipid profile, glucose and blood pressure. Results: Participants belonging to higher social classes presented, in general, lower prevalence of hypertension than participants belonging to lower social classes. When participants in the study were stratified by gender and social class, men belonging to the highest social classes showed similar prevalence of hypertension than men located in the lower social classes. However, women belonging to the higher social classes presented lower prevalence of hypertension than those belonging to the lower social classes. Regarding the effect of age, it was found that hypertension prevalence increases with aging. Conclusions: Social class inequalities in the prevalence of hypertension were higher among women than among men. Age plays an essential role in the prevalence of hypertension in any social class.