title: An epidemiological study determining blood pressure in a Portuguese cohort: the Guimarães/Vizela study.
abstract: Surveying the evolution of blood pressure (BP) levels and hypertension (HTN) prevalence is important. A stringent strategy was utilized in a population cohort study. The BP was measured at two visits at least 3 months apart, and the results were analyzed using the following two methods: the Surveillance method (three BP measurements were performed in one visit, and the results were compared with those published previously for the identical method) and the Clinical method (three measurements per visit for two visits, and the concordant results in both visits were used to determine the BP classification). A total of 2542 subjects completed the evaluation. Using the Clinical method, an average systolic/diastolic BP value of 129.8/76.8 mm Hg was obtained, and the prevalence of HTN was 31.6%. Of the hypertensive patients, 74.3% were aware of his/her condition; 69.1% were treated and 40.8% of those treated had adequate BP control. A total of 24.7% of subjects changed his/her BP classification between visits, and 13.7% misreported HTN. Using the Surveillance method, we determined that the average global SBP has been maintained, with HTN prevalence increasing in this region, drifting from reported trends nationally and worldwide. There has been improvement in the proportion of treated and controlled subjects; however, the Surveillance method overestimated the HTN prevalence and underestimated the proportion of treated and controlled subjects. The BP levels were higher than observed worldwide in high-cardiovascular (CV) risk countries as well as higher than the minimum risk exposure level for developing CV disease.
authors: 1] Center for the Research and Treatment of Arterial Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk, Internal Medicine Department, Guimarães-Centro Hospitalar do Alto Ave/Minho University, Guimarães, Portugal [2] Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Science, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [3] ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors: P G
authors: PG
authors: Cunha
authors: 1] Center for the Research and Treatment of Arterial Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk, Internal Medicine Department, Guimarães-Centro Hospitalar do Alto Ave/Minho University, Guimarães, Portugal [2] Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Science, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [3] ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Cotter
authors: Departamento de Estudo de Populações, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors: P
authors: 0000000224700795
authors: P
authors: Oliveira
authors: Center for the Research and Treatment of Arterial Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk, Internal Medicine Department, Guimarães-Centro Hospitalar do Alto Ave/Minho University, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Vila
authors: 1] Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Science, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [2] ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Sousa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D058246:Prehypertension / Q000453:epidemiology