Hypertension (HTN) is the most frequent chronic pathology in France and a major risk factor for stroke and cardiovascular diseases. Few recent data are available for the French overseas departments. In 2008, the HTN prevalence was estimated at 44% for the Mahorese population.

To update the data of the HTN prevalence, awareness, treatment and control. To describe the socio-demographic and medical characteristics of the hypertensive Mahorese population.

This cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of the population aged 30 to 69 and living in Mayotte. Data were collected through a face-to-face interview and a clinical exam. Hypertension was defined by patient-reported hypertension or the measurement of a blood pressure ≥140/90 on clinical exam. Data were weighted to adjust to the Mahorese population structure. The prevalence of HTN and the characteristics of the population were described.

In 2019, 1,856 people aged 30–69 participated in this survey. More than two third of the interviewed adults were overweight (56.7% of the men against 82.9% of the women), 12.6% consumed alcohol and 12.5% were active smoker. The HTN prevalence in the age range 30–69 was estimated at 48.6% (47.1% in men and 50.0% in women). HTN significantly increased with age with a prevalence of 83.5% for the range 60–69 years old. In hypertensive people, 48.3% were aware of their condition, higher in women (55.6%) than in men (39.7%) and 25.6% were taking an antihypertensive treatment. Among treated hypertensive people, 30.2% were controlled for this disease.

Nearly one in two people are hypertensive and only a fourth of the hypertensive are medically treated. The socio-demographic, medical and exposure to certain cardiovascular risk factors may explain some of these Results They underline the importance of carrying out specific studies in this French territory and the need to develop preventive and care actions.