[New perspectives on health prevention. Prevalence of hypertension, hypacusis and balance disorders at the Munich Oktoberfest 2016]

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of hypertension, hypacusis and balance disorders will increase due to demographic change and thus represent an increasing public health problem.

Objective: To determine the point prevalence of the diseases in focus outside the classical medical setting.

Method: At the "Bavarian Central Agriculture Festival", on the margins of the Oktoberfest 2016, visitors were offered a free health check with three health stations (blood pressure measurement, hearing test, balance test). By means of standardized examinations, the prevalence of the diseases was recorded.

Results: 1,727 people participated in the blood pressure measurement, 510 in the hearing test and 1,320 in the balance test. At all study sites, an increase in prevalence was observed with increasing age. Overall, the prevalence of hypertensive blood pressure values (> 140/> 90 mmHg) was 23.6%, with a high rate of 30.8% among over-65s. In the hearing test, 41.6% of all participants had a low-grade (20-40 dB) and 15.5% a higher-grade (> 40 dB) hypacusis. A balance value in the normal range was achieved by only 25.2% of the participants.

Conclusion: The prevalence of the investigated diseases was very high, especially older men were more often affected by these health problems. Overall, there is a large primary and secondary prevention potential for the prevention and early treatment of the diseases. In order to increase the use, it would be possible in particular to consider expanding access to prevention programs outside of classic medical settings.

Keywords: balance disorders; hypacusis; hypertension; prevalence; prevention.