title: Prevalence and treatment of hypertension in urban and riverside areas in Porto Velho, the Brazilian Amazon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension (HTN) is a preventable cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of HTN among urban and riverside populations in Porto Velho, Amazon region.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study between July and December 2013 based on a household survey of individuals aged 35-80 years. Interviews by using a standardized questionnaire, and blood pressure (BP), weight, height, and waist circumference measurements were performed. HTN was defined when individuals reported having the disease, received antihypertensive medications, or had a systolic BP ≥ 140 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mm Hg. Awareness was based on self-reports and the use of antihypertensive medications. Control was defined as a BP ≤ 140/90 mm Hg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 1410 participants, 750 (53.19%) had HTN and 473 (63.06%) had diagnosis awareness, of whom 404 (85.41%) received pharmacological treatment but with low control rate. The prevalence and treatment rates were higher in the urban areas (55.48% vs. 48.87% [p = 0.02] and 61.25% vs. 52.30% [p < 0.01], respectively). HTN awareness was higher in the riverside area (61.05% vs. 67.36% ; p < 0.01), but the control rates showed no statistically significant difference (22.11% vs. 23.43% ; p = 0.69).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HTN prevalence was higher in the urban population than in the riverside population. Of the hypertensive individuals in both areas, <25% had controlled HTN. Comprehensive public health measures are needed to improve the prevention and treatment of systemic arterial HTN and prevent other cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) , Sao Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Raitany Costa
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Diego Jordão Lino
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Karime Tuyane Pinheiro
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Deguchi
authors.forename: Carlos Henrique
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Spesia
authors.forename: Otavio Rizzi
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Coelho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
keywords: Hypertension; cardiovascular; prevalence; prevention; treatment