title: Prevalence, treatment and control of hypertension in a Croatian endemic nephropathy area.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension is not considered to be a characteristic of endemic nephropathy (EN). Recent observations suggested that it might be more prevalent than it was reported before.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to analyze prevalence, treatment and control of hypertension in a Croatian endemic area.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present cross-sectional study, 1,602 farmers were enrolled, 1,246 from EN and 356 from control villages. Epidemiological and medical histories were taken and clinical and laboratory examinations performed for kidney function. Blood pressure was measured following the ESH/ESC guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of hypertension in EN villages was higher than in control (50.8 vs. 46.5%, p = 0.005). There was no difference in overall treatment, control of all and treated hypertensives between the villages. In all villages, women were treated more than men (EN 41.6 vs. 28.4%, p < 0.001; control 46.4 vs. 27.3%, p < 0.001), but better control of treated was achieved in men (EN 24.7 vs. 17.4%, p = 0.002; control 29.6 vs. 15.5%, p = 0.002). Women had lower income and level of education than men (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypertension is highly prevalent in endemic villages. In all villages, men had better blood pressure control despite being treated less. This finding could be explained by poorer education and income in women.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Arterial Hypertension Dialysis and Transplantation, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Center Zagreb, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Živka
authors.initials: Ž
authors.lastname: Dika
authors.forename: Josip
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Juras
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kos
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fištrek
authors.forename: Vedran
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Premužić
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laganović
authors.forename: Mirta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abramović-Baríc
authors.forename: Ante
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cvitković
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vuković Lela
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karanović
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jurić
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bitunjac
authors.forename: Tomislav
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teskera
authors.forename: Bojan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jelaković
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016896:Treatment Outcome