[Effects of incorporating additional blood pressure measurements during The National Health Survey in Chile].
BACKGROUND
It is of utmost importance to identify hypertensive subjects in a country, in order to use efficiently public resources. The National Health Survey 2009-10 in Chile incorporated a third measurement of blood pressure (BP) during the home visit performed by a nurse, and a second day of measurement in a representative sub-sample.


OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of these two additional actions over both the average value of BP and the national prevalence of hypertension.


METHODS
A third blood pressure measurement was carried out in 5,058 subjects, and it was measured in a second day in 930 individuals. The effect of these additional measurements on absolute blood pressure values and the prevalence of hypertension were assessed.


RESULTS
A small but statistically significant reduction in mean systolic pressure (0.52 mmHg) and the prevalence of hypertension (1%) was observed after the incorporation of the third blood pressure measurement. No effects in these figures were observed after the measurement performed on a second day.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings should be considered when designing the new National Health Survey in Chile.
Joaquín
J
Montero
Cristián
C
Mansilla
Paula
P
Margozzini
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods*; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult