Hypertension in seven Latin American cities: the Cardiovascular Risk Factor Multiple Evaluation in Latin America (CARMELA) study.
BACKGROUND
Little information is available regarding hypertension, treatment, and control in urban population of Latin America.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to compare blood pressure (BP) distribution, hypertension prevalence, treatment, and control in seven Latin American cities following standard methodology.


METHODS
The Cardiovascular Risk Factor Multiple Evaluation in Latin America (CARMELA) study was a cross-sectional, epidemiologic study assessing cardiovascular risk factors using stratified multistage sampling of adult populations (aged 25-64 years) in seven cities: Barquisimeto (Venezuela; n = 1848); Bogotá (n = 1553); Buenos Aires (n = 1482); Lima (n = 1652); Mexico City (n = 1720); Quito (n = 1638); and Santiago (n = 1655). The prevalence of hypertension and high normal BP were determined based on 2007 European Society of Hypertension and European Society of Cardiology definitions.


RESULTS
BP increased with age in men and women; pulse pressure increased mainly in the upper age group. The hypertension prevalence ranged from 9% in Quito to 29% in Buenos Aires. One-quarter to one-half of the hypertension cases were previously undiagnosed (24% in Mexico City to 47% in Lima); uncontrolled hypertension ranged from 12% (Lima) to 41% (Mexico City). High normal BP was also evident in a substantial number of each city participants (approximately 5-15%). Majority of population has other cardiovascular risk factors despite hypertension; only 9.19% of participants have no risk factors apart from hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
From 13.4 to 44.2% of the populations of seven major Latin American cities were hypertensive or had high normal BP values. Most hypertensive patients have additional risk factors. Public health programs need to target prevention, detection, treatment, and control of total cardiovascular risk in Latin America.
Hernández-Hernández
Rafael
R
Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Hypertension and Risk Factors Clinic, School of Medicine, Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado, Barquisimeto, Venezuela. rhernan@cantv.net
Silva
Honorio
H
Velasco
Manuel
M
Pellegrini
Fabio
F
Macchia
Alejandro
A
Escobedo
Jorge
J
Vinueza
Raul
R
Schargrodsky
Herman
H
Champagne
Beatriz
B
Pramparo
Palmira
P
Wilson
Elinor
E
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002947:Cities; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population