title: Cross-sectional study on blood pressure control in the department of nephrology of the Escola Paulista de Medicina - UNIFESP.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess hypertension control rates in a specialized university-affiliated medical department, the influence of sex, diabetes, and obesity on that control, and the strategies for the treatment of hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a cross-sectional study with 1,210 patients followed up for at least 6 months. Information was gathered from medical and nursing records and comprised the following data: sex, age, weight, height, abdominal and hip circumferences, blood pressure, and class and number of the antihypertensive drugs prescribed. To assess obesity, we used body mass index and waist/hip ratio. Blood pressure was considered under control when its levels were below 140/90 mmHg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study consisted of 73% females and 27% males. Most females (31.7%) were 50 to 59 years of age, and most males (28.3%) were 60 to 69 years. The blood pressure control rate found was 20.9% for the 1,210 patients and 23.4% for the hypertensive diabetic patients (n=290). Despite the low control rates found, 70% of the patients used 1 or 2 antihypertensive medications. A high prevalence of obesity (38%) was observed, and females had a greater abdominal obesity index than males did (90% vs 82%, p<0.05). Patients with a greater body mass index had less control of blood pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The percentage of hypertensive patients with controlled blood pressure levels was low and was associated with a high prevalence of obesity. These data indicate the need for reviewing the strategies of global treatment for hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Batista de
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Agostinho
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: Osvaldo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kohlmann
authors.forename: Maria Tereza
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Zanella
authors.forename: Artur Beltrame
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors