title: Hypertension in Latin America: Current perspectives on trends and characteristics.
abstract: The region of Latin America, which includes Central America, the Caribbean and South America, is one that is rapidly developing. Signified by socio-economic growth, transition and development over the last few decades, living standards in countries like Brazil and Mexico have improved dramatically, including improvements in education and health care. An important marker of socio-economic change has been the epidemiological shift in disease burden. Cardiovascular disease is now the leading cause of death in Latin America, and the drop in prevalence of infectious diseases has been accompanied by a rise in non-communicable diseases. Hypertension is the major risk factor driving the cardiovascular disease continuum. In this article we aim to discuss the epidemiological and management trends and patterns in hypertension that may be specific or more common to Latin-American populations - what we term 'Latin American characteristics' of hypertension - via a review of the recent literature. Recognizing that there may be a specific profile of hypertension for Latin-American patients may help to improve their treatment, with the ultimate goal to reduce their cardiovascular risk. We focus somewhat on the countries of Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela, the experience of which may reflect other Latin American countries that currently have less published data regarding epidemiology and management practices.
authors.affiliation: "Cátedra UAM de Epidemiología y Control del Riesgo Cardiovascular", Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain; Hypertension Unit, Institute of Research i+12: Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk Group, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre & Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: ruilope@ad-hocbox.com.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ruilope
authors.affiliation: Chief Cardiology Division, ABC Medical School, Av. Principe de Gales, 821, 09060-870 Santo André, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: A C P
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Chagas
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology - Hypertension Unit, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.affiliation: Social Security, Hospital Dr. Domingo Luciani, Rio de Janeiro av. Municipio Sucre, Caracas 1073, Venezuela.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gómez-Berroterán
authors.affiliation: "Hospital Dr. Domingo Luciani" - Institute Venezuelan of the Safe Social (IVSS), Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: J J A
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Alcalá
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia "Ignacio Chávez", Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Paris
authors.affiliation: Research and Education General Director, Grupo Angeles Servicios de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: J J O
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cerda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: América Latina; Blood pressure control; Brasil; Brazil; Cardiovascular disease; Control de la tensión arterial; Enfermedad cardiovascular; Estilo de vida; Hipertensión; Hypertension; Latin America; Lifestyle; Mexico; México; Obesidad; Obesity; Venezuela