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The epidemiology of hypertension in South America
1Cordoba 2962 3G-(1187), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Insights
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health issue in Latin America, with limited regional data on risk factors like hypertension. Recent studies highlight the importance of these factors and the need for better control strategies.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in Latin America, yet regional data on risk factors are scarce.
- Developing nations face challenges in collecting epidemiological data on cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, their prevalence, and management.
- The precise burden of CV risk factors, particularly hypertension, remains unclear in the region.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the lack of regional data on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors in Latin America.
- To investigate the prevalence and impact of CV risk factors, including hypertension, on cardiovascular events.
- To evaluate the control and management of CV risk factors in the region.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing epidemiological data on CVD and CV risk factors in Latin America.
- Analysis of two large-scale epidemiological studies conducted in the southern region: FRICAS (primary prevention) and PRESEA (secondary prevention).
- Examination of varying methodologies and diagnostic criteria for hypertension across different surveys and countries.
Main Results:
- The FRICAS study underscored the significance of individual CV risk factors, including hypertension, in the development of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
- The PRESEA study revealed inadequate control of CV risk factors and highlighted the urgent need for improved management strategies.
- Significant regional variations in CVD and risk factor prevalence are suggested, necessitating localized data.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need for more comprehensive and standardized epidemiological data on CVD and its risk factors across Latin America.
- Effective strategies are required to improve the control and treatment of hypertension and other CV risk factors to reduce CVD burden.
- Findings from FRICAS and PRESEA provide crucial insights into primary and secondary prevention efforts for CVD in the region.
Abstract:
Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability in the majority of the countries in Latin America we have few data about regional differences on this topic. Developing countries have scarce epidemiological data on cardiovascular (CV) risk factor prevalence and subsequently in their control and treatment. The load of the CV risk factors, especially hypertension, remains uncertain. The methodology of investigation varies from country to country and the criteria to define 'hypertension' is different according to the survey year. Data on CVD from USA and Europe have been extrapolated to our continent but recently two large epidemiological studies have been conducted in the southern region: FRICAS, primary prevention, and PRESEA, secondary prevention. The first pointed out the importance of each cardiovascular risk factor, including hypertension, in the development of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and the second showed the poor control of them and the necessity to improve them.