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An epidemiological study determining blood pressure in a Portuguese cohort: the Guimarães/Vizela study

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 29, pages 190–197 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

Surveying the evolution of blood pressure (BP) levels and hypertension (HTN) prevalence is important. A stringent strategy was utilized in a population cohort study. The BP was measured at two visits at least 3 months apart, and the results were analyzed using the following two methods: the Surveillance method (three BP measurements were performed in one visit, and the results were compared with those published previously for the identical method) and the Clinical method (three measurements per visit for two visits, and the concordant results in both visits were used to determine the BP classification). A total of 2542 subjects completed the evaluation. Using the Clinical method, an average systolic/diastolic BP value of 129.8/76.8 mm Hg was obtained, and the prevalence of HTN was 31.6%. Of the hypertensive patients, 74.3% were aware of his/her condition; 69.1% were treated and 40.8% of those treated had adequate BP control. A total of 24.7% of subjects changed his/her BP classification between visits, and 13.7% misreported HTN. Using the Surveillance method, we determined that the average global SBP has been maintained, with HTN prevalence increasing in this region, drifting from reported trends nationally and worldwide. There has been improvement in the proportion of treated and controlled subjects; however, the Surveillance method overestimated the HTN prevalence and underestimated the proportion of treated and controlled subjects. The BP levels were higher than observed worldwide in high-cardiovascular (CV) risk countries as well as higher than the minimum risk exposure level for developing CV disease.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the following institutions and departments who collaborated in this project: Agrupamento de Centros de Saúde de Guimarães e Vizela, Serviço de Patologia Clínica do Centro Hospitalar do Alto Ave, Centro de Saúde da Amorosa, USF Afonso Henriques, USF Ara Trajano, USF Duo Vida, USF Novos Rumos, USF de Pevidém, USF Physis, USF de Ponte, USF de Ronfe, USF S. Nicolau, USF de S. Torcato, USF de Serzedelo e USF Vimaranes. A special word is addressed to thank all the physicians working in those different Primary Health Care Community Centers, whose work of enrolling subjects was vital to the successful prosecution of our goals. We also thank Professor ME Macedo and co-authors of the PAP Study, for providing access to previously unpublished results of that project. The Guimarães Study Group is also composed of the following researchers responsible for data collection: Helena Sarmento, Gloria Alves, Sara Freitas, Ana Sofia Alves, Sofia Gomes, Marta Gonçalves, Rui Fernandes, António Pedro Fonte, José Miguel Sá, Clarisse Neves, Andreia Sampaio, Cristina Cunha, Sílvia Sousa, Filipe Gonçalves, Joana Malheiro, João Silva, Carlos Fernandes, Estefânia Bustabad, Laura Castro, Nuna Vieira, Filipa Ramos, Ana Catarina Marques, Joana Monteiro, Ana Sofia Silva, Margarida Rocha, Mafalda Jordão Abreu, Margarida Dias, Magda Fernandes, Paula Felgueiras, Francisca Castro, Vânia Gomes, Ana Luísa Novo, Carla Pereira, Ana Cristina Ramalho, Fernando Esculcas, Dina Fernandes, Ricardo Rodrigues, Rafael Velho, Diana Coimbra, Joana Pimenta, João Pedro Teixeira, Ana Luísa Neves, Joana Leitão, Sara Pereira, Carla Ferreira, Clarinda Neves, Samuel Pedreira, Pedro Neves, Elisabete Lima, Carla Mendes, Orlanda Barbosa, Ana Catarina Martins, Célia Lemos, Eduarda Macedo, Sílvia Azevedo, Ana Rita Ribeiro, Elsa Salgado, Joana Dias, Eduarda Piairo, Marisa Carneiro, Ismael Costa, Lucília Miranda, Ana João Gonçalves, Natália Rodrigues, Manuela Morais, Rosário Santos, Odete Rodrigues, Alexandra Barreira, Ana Rita Romano, Catarina Marques, Fernanda Marisa Santos, Sónia Coelho Pereira, Elisabete Pinto Teixeira, and Joana Andrade Pinto.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Internal Medicine Department, Center for the Research and Treatment of Arterial Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk, Guimarães—Centro Hospitalar do Alto Ave/Minho University, Guimarães, Portugal

    P G Cunha, J Cotter & I Vila

  2. Life and Health Science Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Science, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

    P G Cunha, J Cotter & N Sousa

  3. ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal

    P G Cunha, J Cotter & N Sousa

  4. Departamento de Estudo de Populações, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    P Oliveira

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  1. P G Cunha
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Correspondence to P G Cunha.

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Cunha, P., Cotter, J., Oliveira, P. et al. An epidemiological study determining blood pressure in a Portuguese cohort: the Guimarães/Vizela study. J Hum Hypertens 29, 190–197 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2014.61

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