Status and management of hypertension in Greece: role of the adoption of a Mediterranean diet: the Attica study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension, in a random sample of adults free of cardiovascular disease, in Greece. A secondary goal was to evaluate the association between hypertension status and adoption of the Mediterranean diet.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
On the basis of multistage sampling, 1,128 men and 1,154 women older than 18 years were enrolled.


METHODS
The survey included a detailed interview and, among other clinical measurements, status and management of blood pressure were recorded. Adoption of the Mediterranean diet was assessed through a special questionnaire.


RESULTS
The prevalence of hypertension was 38.2% in men and 23.9% in women (P < 0.05). The majority of men (65%) and women (40%) were untreated, and of those who were treated, only 109 of 319 (34%) had their blood pressure adequately controlled. Thus only 15% of the hypertensive population had their blood pressure well controlled. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that consumption of a Mediterranean diet was associated with a 26% (odds ratio = 0.74, P = 0.008) lower risk of being hypertensive, and with a 36% (odds ratio = 1.36, P = 0.021) greater probability of having the blood pressure controlled.


CONCLUSIONS
A considerable proportion of the general population remain unaware of having hypertension or do not have their blood pressure well controlled. However, consumption of a Mediterranean type of diet seems to reduce rates of hypertension in the population, and may contribute to the control of hypertension at the population level.
Panagiotakos
Demosthenes B
DB
Cardiology Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece. d.b.panagiotakos@usa.net
Pitsavos
Christos H
CH
Chrysohoou
Christina
C
Skoumas
John
J
Papadimitriou
Lambros
L
Stefanadis
Christodoulos
C
Toutouzas
Pavlos K
PK
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data