Epidemiological characterization of high blood pressure at a doctor's office in Viñales, Pinar del Río, Cuba

Abstract

Introduction: High blood pressure is the most universally widespread cardiovascular disease.

Objective: To characterize, from the epidemiological point of view, the arterial hypertension of the population older than 18 years from a doctor's office.

Method: Descriptive cross-sectional investigation at the Medical Office Nº 14 from the University Polyclinic Fermín Valdés Domínguez in Viñales Municipality, from October to December 2013. From the 1079 individuals over 18 years of age belonging to this health area, an intentional sample of 180 patients diagnosed with high blood pressure was selected. The variables: age, sex, skin color, other chronic noncommunicable diseases, pharmacological treatment combination, and disease complications were analyzed.

Results: 38.3% of patients belong to the 51-60 years group. Male predominated with 118 patients (65.6%), and white skin with 121 (67.2%). Within those 180 hypertensive patients studied, 122 associated noncommunicable chronic diseases were found, predominantly diabetes mellitus (32.8%) and ischemic heart disease (29.5%). The majority of them used two drugs (58.3%) and 21.1%, three. Left ventricular hypertrophy (51.1%) and heart failure (38.9%) were the most frequently found complications.

Conclusions: There was a correlation between age and prevalence of high blood pressure. Males and white skin color prevailed. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was the main associated disease, the combination of two drugs was more frequent, and left ventricular hypertrophy was recognized as the predominant complication.