CARICOM CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (CCDP)

National Census Report 2001, St. Vincent and the Grenadinescases of hypertension indicate that the age group 45-64, the elderly as well as females weremainly affected. There was relatively no difference in the percentage of reported cases betweenthose 45-64 and those 65 or older with 39.93 per cent (3 019 cases) and 39.76 per cent (3 006cases) respectively, (Tables 7.3(a), 7.3(b)).Children and youth were hardly affected by this illness. Together they accounted for less thantwo per cent of reported cases, while the 25 to 44 years population accounted for 18.95 per cent.Those suffering from hypertension are more likely to develop heart diseases or stroke if they donot manage the illness with adequate medication, diet and exercise.Data from the Ministry of Health (MOH) support these findings. The 2003 Report on Non-Communicable diseases noted that, 'Hypertension remained the leading health condition forclinic attendances in all the health districts' (MOH, 2003:9). According to this report, attendancefor hypertension has increased from 20.5 per cent of all attendances in 1999 to 25.1 per cent in2000. These rates have continued to increase reaching 29.2 per cent in 2003. The majority ofthe attendances in 2003 were made by those in the 45 and older population (84.9 per cent) and byfemales (74 per cent). Compared to the 2001 Census figures, there seems to be furtherfeminisation of this illness. The MOH Report also noted that Calliaqua, Kingstown and SouthernGrenadines reported the highest cases for hypertension.7.5.2 ArthritisApproximately 87 per cent of the 5 398 reported cases of arthritics was made by persons 45years or older, with the elderly accounting for 52.5 per cent (2 834) of all reported cases.Females reported the majority of the cases 66.45 per cent (3 587), (Table 7.3). These figures onthe second leading cause of illness support the general belief that arthritis is of a gerontologicalnature that affects mainly women. Children and youth together accounted for only 2.22 per cent(120) of the reported cases, while the 25 to 44 years age group accounted for 10.84 per cent(585), (Tables 7.3(a), 7.3(b)).The MOH data on arthritis indicate that this illness accounted for 7.8 per cent of attendances atthe health clinics in 2000. In 2003, this illness accounted for 8.9 per cent of all attendances and95