title: Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in Portugal: the PAP study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and distribution of hypertension and to determine the status of hypertension awareness, treatment and control in the Portuguese adult population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted in 2003, and a multistage cluster sampling method was used to select a national representative sample. A total of 5023 adults, age 18-90 years, were examined. Three blood pressure measurements were obtained by trained observers using an OMROM M4-I sphygmomanometer after a 5-min sitting rest. Information on the history of hypertension and the use of antihypertensive medications was obtained by use of a standard questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypertension was defined as a mean systolic blood pressure > or = 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure > or = 90 mmHg, or the use of antihypertensive medications. Overall, 42.1% of the Portuguese adult population aged 18-90 years, representing 3 311 830 people, had hypertension. The age-specific prevalence of hypertension in the three age groups studied--younger than 35 years, 35-64 years old and older than 64 years--was 26.2, 54.7 and 79% in men and 12.4, 41.1 and 78.7% in women, respectively. Among hypertensive patients, only 46.1% were aware of their high blood pressure, 39.0% were taking antihypertensive medication and 11.2% achieved blood pressure control (< 140/90 mmHg).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that hypertension is highly prevalent in Portugal. The percentages of those with hypertension that are aware, treated and controlled are unacceptably low. These results underscore the urgent need to develop national strategies to improve prevention, detection and treatment of hypertension in Portugal.
authors.affiliation: Service of Medicine B, piso 3, Oporto School of Medicine, Alameda Hêrnani Monteiro 4200-319, Porto, Portugal. espigamacedo@netcabo.pl
authors.forename: Mário Espiga
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: António O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alcantara
authors.forename: Vitor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramalhinho
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carmona
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012494:Sampling Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents