Prevalence of arterial hypertension at the Llobregat Hospital. Evolution of the control rate between 1981 and 1987

: To assess the current prevalence of hypertension (HT) in l'Hospitalet de Llobregat and the evolution of the rate of diagnosis, treatment and control between 1981 and 1987, we carried out a cross sectional study in a census sample of 801 individuals above 19 years old, chosen at random after age and sex stratification. The prevalence of HT, as defined by the WHO classical criteria, was 19.8 +/- 2.7%, and 17% for borderline HT. 122 of the 159 detected hypertensives (76.7%) were known hypertensives, 96 (60.6%) received antihypertensive therapy and 58 (36.4%) had their blood pressure values under control [systolic blood pressure (SBP) less than 160 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) less than 95 mmHg]. If individuals with DBP between 90 and 94 mmHg were included as hypertensives, the number of the latter increased to 206 (25.8%). 144 of these (69.9%) were known hypertensives, 97 (47%) were receiving antihypertensive therapy and 51 (24.7%) had their BP values under control (SBP less than 160 mmHg and DBP less than 90 mmHg). The general practitioner had diagnosed HT in 59% of known hypertensives, and was treating the disease on a regular basis in 61%. This value in higher than that found in 1981 (44%, p less than 0.05). In the comparative analysis with the previous study carried out in this town, a significant increase in the rate of detection (47% in 1981 and 76% in 1987, p less than 0.01) and control of HT (7.5% and 36.4%, respectively; p less than 0.01) were found.