Hypertension is a major public health burden due to its causal association with cardiovascular
disease morbidity, mortality, disability and economic costs. It is becoming an increasingly
common health problem worldwide due to greater longevity in many countries (Singh RB 2000).
Hypertension is important not only because of its increasing prevalence worldwide but also
because it is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) (Poulter 2003).
Hypertension has been identified as a leading risk factor for mortality and ranked third as a cause
of disability adjusted life years worldwide. More than a quarter of the world‟s adult population
totaling one billion had hypertension in 2000, and this proportion will increase to 29% or 1.56
billion by 2025. The prevalence of hypertension increases with age consistently in all regions of
the world (Ezzati, et al. 2002).