title: Population prevalence and control of cardiovascular risk factors: what electronic medical records tell us.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the prevalence, control, and management of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis of all individuals attended in the Catalan primary care centers between 2006 and 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  History of cardiovascular diseases, diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, DM2, lipid profile, glycemia and blood pressure data were extracted from electronic medical records. Age-standardized prevalence and levels of management and control were estimated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals aged 35-74 years using primary care databases.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2,174,515 individuals were included (mean age 52 years [SD 11], 47% men).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypertension was the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor (39% in women, 41% in men) followed by hypercholesterolemia (38% and 40%) and DM2 (12% and 16%), respectively. Diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were most often prescribed for hypertension control (<140/90mmHg, achieved in 68% of men and 60% of women treated). Hypercholesterolemia was controlled (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol <130mg/dl) in just 31% of men and 26% of women with no history of cardiovascular disease, despite lipid-lowering treatment, primarily (90%) with statins. The percentage of women and men with DM2 and with glycated hemoglobin <7% was 64.7% and 59.2%, respectively; treatment was predominantly with oral hypoglycemic agents alone (70%), or combined with insulin (15%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypertension was the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor in the Catalan population attended at primary care centers. About two thirds of individuals with hypertension or DM2 were adequately controlled; hypercholesterolemia control was particularly low.
authors: Àmbit d'Avaluació de Farmàcia, Agència de Qualitat i Avaluació Sanitàries de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain; Unitat de Coordinació i Estratègia del Medicament, Direcció Adjunta d'Afers Assistencials, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: acatalanra@gencat.cat.
authors: Arantxa
authors: A
authors: Catalán-Ramos
authors: Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Jose M
authors: JM
authors: Verdú
authors: IMIM - Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: María
authors: M
authors: Grau
authors: Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Iglesias-Rodal
authors: Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: José L
authors: JL
authors: del Val García
authors: Aplicaciones en Informática Avanzada (AIA) S.L., Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Alicia
authors: A
authors: Consola
authors: Unitat de Coordinació i Estratègia del Medicament, Direcció Adjunta d'Afers Assistencials, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Comin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Atención Primaria; Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2; Diabetes mellitus type 2; Electronic Health Records; Hipercolesterolemia; Hipertensión; Historia clínica electrónica; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypertension; Prevalence; Prevalencia; Primary health care