Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension in the Southern Cone of Latin America

ADOLFO RUBINSTEIN; VILMA IRAZOLA

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION

NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016

0895-7061

BACKGROUNDHypertension is the leading global preventable risk factor for prematuredeath. While hypertension prevalence has been declining inhigh-income countries, it has increased continuously in low- and middle-income countries.METHODSWe conducted a cross-sectional survey in 7,524 women and men aged35?74 years from randomly selected samples in 4 cities (Bariloche andMarcos Paz, Argentina; Temuco, Chile; and Pando-Barros Blancos, Uruguay)in 2010?2011. Three blood pressure (BP) measurements were obtainedby trained observers using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer.Hypertension was defined as a mean systolic BP ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolicBP ≥90 mm Hg and/or use of antihypertensive medications.RESULTSAn estimated 42.5% of the study population (46.6% of men and 38.7%of women) had hypertension and an estimated 32.5% (36.0% of menand 29.4% of women) had prehypertension. Approximately 63.0% ofadults with hypertension (52.5% of men and 74.3% of women) wereaware of their disease condition, 48.7% (36.1% of men and 62.1% ofwomen) were taking prescribed medications to lower their BP, and only21.1% of all hypertensive patients (13.8% of men and 28.9% of women)and 43.3% of treated hypertensive patients (38.1% of men and 46.5% ofwomen) achieved BP control.CONCLUSIONSThis study indicates that the prevalence of hypertension is high whileawareness, treatment, and control are low in the general population inthe Southern Cone of Latin America. These data call for bold actionsat regional and national levels to implement effective, practical, andsustainable intervention programs aimed to improve hypertensionprevention, detection, and control.