Observational study of hypertension and snoring in Northeastern Italy (Limana Hypertension Study)

To evaluate through an observational study on volunteers some important cardiovascular disease risk factors such as hypertension and snoring in a population from Limana, a town of a subalpine zone of northeastern Italy.

Limana residents were informed by post and at a public meeting and then attended an outpatient clinic set up by the town of Limana for clinical history, measurement of blood pressure, weight and height.

Of 202 subjects (94 men and 108 women), 92.6% of whom were residents of Limana, having a mean age of 59.7 years, which was significantly higher than the mean (44.7 years), took part in the study.

Only 32.3% of study subjects with hypertension had normal blood pressure values while 38.6% of the subjects without hypertension treatment, were hypertensive. We found no significant association between hypertension and smoking and there were significant associations between hypertension and age and hypertension and snoring.

Given the limitations of an observational study based on volunteer participation, nevertheless, our study presents some interesting results: (1) a low number of subjects with hypertension whose blood pressure is well controlled; (2) a significant number of "normal" subjects with high values of blood pressure; (3) no significant relationship between hypertension and smoking; (4) a significant relationship between subjects who snored and were hypertensive.