title: [Self-reported hypertension: validation in a representative cross-sectional survey].
abstract: To assess the validity of self-reported hypertension, a population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Pelotas, Southern Brazil. Individuals aged 20 years were selected through probabilistic two-stage sampling. All 2,949 participants had their blood pressure measured twice (5 minutes apart) during a household visit. Those presenting systolic pressure 140 mmHg and/or diastolic pressure 90 mmHg were revisited. The gold standard for hypertension was the mean of the two measures taken at the second visit and/or use of anti-hypertensive drugs. Self-reported hypertension was obtained through the question: 'Has any doctor ever said that you have high blood pressure?'. Prevalence rates for self-reported and measured hypertension were 33.6% and 29.5%, respectively. Sensitivity was 84.3% (81.7-86.7%), specificity 87.5% (86.0-88.9%), positive predictive value 73.9% (71.0-76.6%), and negative predictive value 93.0% (91.8-94.1%). Self-reporting is a reliable method for monitoring prevalence of hypertension, one of the most important risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases.
authors: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rua Marechal Deodoro 1160, Pelotas, Brazil. machrestani@uol.com.br
authors: Maria Aurora Dropa
authors: MA
authors: Chrestani
authors: Iná da Silva dos
authors: Ida S
authors: Santos
authors: Alícia M
authors: AM
authors: Matijasevich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors