Prevalence of hypertension in rural populations from Ibero-America and the Caribbean.
BACKGROUND
Hypertension and cardiovascular risk factors are widespread in developing countries, but little is known about cardiovascular risk profiles in rural communities from Ibero-America and the Caribbean. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the peer-reviewed literature published from 1990 to 2012 relating to the prevalence of hypertension in rural populations from Ibero-America and the Caribbean.


METHODS
A bibliographic search was conducted in MEDLINE, SCIELO and LILACS databases. Included were population-based studies in which prevalence of hypertension in adults was reported.


RESULTS
A total of 30 peer-reviewed publications were identified that reported the prevalence of hypertension in 33 143 patients. The crude hypertension prevalence reported from rural Ibero-America was 32.6% (95% confidence interval: 31.4-32.5%; range: 1.8-52%). The prevalence of hypertension was lower in aboriginal populations than in other rural communities (19.5% vs 36%). Only nine studies assessed the awareness, treatment, and level of control of hypertension (means 54%, 57%, and 14% respectively). The most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors were abdominal obesity (39%) and overweight (39%).


CONCLUSIONS
Hypertension is of public health importance in rural Ibero-America and the Caribbean, with evidence of considerable under-diagnosis, treatment, and control. There is an urgent need to develop strategies to prevent, detect, treat, and control hypertension effectively in this region.
School of Health Sciences, National University of Central Buenos Aires, Tandil, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. alejandrounicen@gmail.com.
Alejandro A
AA
Díaz
Hospital Enrique Rodriguez Larreta, General Medicine, Maria Ignacia Vela, Buenos Aires, Argentina. alejandrounicen@gmail.com.
Matias F
MF
Tringler
D000328:Adult; D044467:American Indian or Alaska Native; D001364:Awareness; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D002489:Central America / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013020:South America / Q000453:epidemiology