Introduction:

Ageing population and arterial hypertension showed a rising trend in the subregions of the Antioquia department.

Objective:

To determine factors associated to arterial hypertension in old adults according to the subregion of the Antioquia department during the second semester of the year 2012.

Method:

Cross-sectional, descriptive, observational, retrospective study where factors associated to arterial hypertension were identified. A secondary source of information was used, with the database of the study Health situation and living conditions of old adults, Antioquia department, 2012 (''Situación de salud y condiciones de vida del adulto mayor, Departamento de Antioquia, 2012'').

Results:

4,248 surveys completed by old adults were analysed, 65.5% were hypertensive women, 64.1% were young elderly (between 60 and 74 years old), Oriente subregion (OR = 1.67, CI 95%):

1.27-2.19), poverty is associated to illness, zero socioeconomic status (OR = 2.54, CI 95%: 0.85- 7.57), an association was found with alcohol and tobacco consumption and nutritional status.

21.8% showed diabetes prevalence and 28.3% of hypertensive adults expressed that it worsened their quality of life.

Conclusions:

Being an older adult, female, of Afro-Colombian origin, living in status zero and showing a moderate nutritional status, diabetes, cardiac or brain problems are associated with arterial hypertension. Implementing the 7 public health indications is required: public policies, health planning, vulnerable population, health promotion, risk prevention, Community participation and ethical principles.

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