PREVALENCE AND CONTROL OF ARTERIAL-HYPERTENSION IN THE SOUTH-EAST OF SPAIN - A RADICAL BUT STILL INSUFFICIENT IMPROVEMENT

Stroke mortality rates in Spain are one of the highest in all of Europ e. At the same time, the Murcia region (south-east Spain) shows, for b oth genders, the highest age-adjusted stroke mortality rates in all of Spain. The earliest available hypertension figure estimations for thi s area go back to 1981, when a high prevalence combined with an almost nonexistent control was detected. One decade later, updated prevalenc e estimations of hypertension are presented jointly with their degree of control and their association with other risk factors based on the results of a prevalence survey in a random population sample (n = 3,09 1). Arterial, blood pressure was measured following the MONICA protoco l, maintaining a tight quality control on between and within-observer variability. As hypertensive was considered any person with systolic b lood pressure (SEP) greater than or equal to 140 mmHg or with diastoli c blood pressure (DBP) greater than or equal to 90 mmHg or with antihy pertensive pharmacological treatment. Detected prevalence rises to 32. 3% (CI 95%: 29.1%-35.5%) among males and to 23.7% (CI 95%: 21.4%-26%) among females, maintaining its level regarding figures observed back i n 1981. However, its control has been increased, especially among hype rtensive women [from less than 5% in 1981 to 35% (95% CI: 32%-37.8%) a t present]. Hypertension is strongly associated to hiperchoIesterolemi a, overweight, obesity and diabetes (p < 0.01). On the contrary, it sh ows an opposite association with current smoking, higher educational l evel and leisure time physical activity (p < 0.01). The highest educat ional level was associated with better hypertension treatment and cont rol. In summary, while hypertension prevalence is stabilized in our po pulation, its control has improved in a measurable but still insuffici ent way. These results are in accordance with a decreasing trend in st roke mortality registered in the Murcia Region along the last decade.