[Factors associated with the knowledge, treatment, and control of arterial hypertension in an adult population of the community of Valencia].

OBJECTIVE

To identify the level of hypertension awareness, treatment and control in the adult population (14 years and older) at the Valencian Region. Type of treatment and associated factors to the hypertension awareness will be also explored.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study (population survey).

SETTING

Valencian Region, Spain.

PARTICIPANTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Data from this study are based on a representative sample of the adult population collected for the Nutrition and Health Examination Survey carried out in the Valencian Region in 1994. Blood pressure measurement was based in two readings on each person at a single sitting.

RESULTS

Awareness of hypertension among subjects classified as hypertensive was 50%. The frequency of treated patients among all those subjects who knew as hypertensive, was 85%. The proportion of well controlled among treated hypertensive people was lightly higher than 50%. 14.6% of people aware of being hypertensive were not under treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The rule of halves still applies to the Valencian Region, though the proportion of diagnosed hypertensive under treatment is much better (> 85%).