[Analysis of a decade of investigation in hypertension in México (1990-2000)].
OBJECTIVE
This review analyzes research on hypertension published between 1990 and 2000 in Mexico and evaluates the congruency between epidemiologic publications and the perspective of health services of the public institutions in Mexico.


METHODS
A search of the literature was conducted of articles published in Mexico related with high blood pressure by means of Bibliomex Salud, MEDLINE, and Internet servers in the medical area. Articles related with secondary hypertension were not included. Evaluations of publications were conducted by three reviewers utilizing a modified version of the Oxman criteria for systematic review of literature.


RESULTS
We identified 71 publications: 43 clinical trials, 21 epidemiologic studies, and studies of various topics related with hypertension. The most studied populations were those with mild to moderate hypertension. Forty percent of publications were related with treatment. Various articles with certain similarities in design, methodology, and results were found in foreign journals. Description of sample size was absent in 80% of articles found. Lack of compatibility between results and conclusions was frequent.


CONCLUSIONS
Research on hypertension in Mexico is principally oriented toward development of clinical trials that study specific aspects of the condition in an isolated manner and without a perspective that places the health problem in context and without approaching its main components.
Carrasco-Rico
Ramiro
R
Unidad de Investigación Epidemiológica y en Servicios en Salud Centro Medico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.
Pérez-Cuevas
Ricardo
R
Oviedo-Mota
Mario Alberto
MA
Reyes-Morales
Hortensia
H
D015706:Bibliometrics; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D008800:Mexico; D011643:Publishing / Q000592:standards*