[Prevalence of arterial hypertension treatment LHU 2 population in Umbria: a comparison between two data sources].

OBJECTIVE: verify the consistency of two independent sources of data concerning the prevalence of arterial hypertension under pharmacological treatment. DESIGN: the pharmacological prescriptions database (A) and the Studio PASSI (Italian behavioural risk factor survey) (B) were assessed. Data selection was carried out according with the presence of at least one prescription of antihypertensive drug during the year 2004 (A), the statement of being under treatment with antihypertensive drugs (B). Prevalence rates were calculated. SETTING: resident population registered in the list of Umbrian Local Health Unit 2 (LHU 2); age range: 18-69 years. PARTICIPANTS: A) the pharmacological prescriptions database: 43,146 subjects selected from the 2004 archive, B) Studio PASSI: representative random sample of 200 persons drawn out from the resident population registered in the 2005 record of the LHU2 list. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: prevalence rate for arterial hypertension with pharmacological treatment. RESULTS: both studies showed similar prevalence rates: A) pharmacological prescriptions database = 17.2% (95% CI 17.1-17.4) and B) PASSI = 15.0% (95% CI10.4-20.7). Age and gender distribution were also comparable. Moreover, the PASSI survey produced additional socio-economical information. CONCLUSION: the hypothesis that the pharmacological prescription database can be used to monitor in a simple, timely and reproducible way major health-related events was validated. Small size surveys - such as the PASSI study - may add further information to the analysis of large administrative databases and they may serve to periodically verify the consistency of these databases when assessed for epidemiological purposes.