[Epidemiologic and social aspects of arterial hypertension in subjects of young age (according to the data of examination of organized groups of employees in Smolensk].

Aim: To study prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) in young Smolensk population sample, AH risk factors, awareness of the patients about their disease, treatment compliance.
Material and Methods: The in-office study covered 1068 employees. In diagnosis of AH, the patient answered the questions about AH risk factors, attitude to treatment.
Results: All was highly prevalent in the examined population (27.9%). Patients under 45 years of age accounted for 38.9% of all the examinees with AH. The risk factors included overweight and obesity (65.5%), smoking (53.5%), family AH history (52.6%). In spite of high awareness about AH (72.4%) and opinion about AH as an important social problem, young patients demonstrate low treatment compliance (12%). This is explained by psychological features of such patients.
Conclusion: It is necessary to examine quality of life of AH patients aged under 45 years, setting up of special schools to maintain educational activity, psychological and rehabilitation care.