[Epidemiology of hypertension]

Hypertension (HT) is the first cause of death and disability worldwide. One in 3 adults in Spain is hypertensive (66% in those > 60 years). Despite improvement in hypertension management over time, only half of treated hypertensive patients are adequately controlled. This translates in 40,000 annual cardiovascular deaths attributable to H T. Among modifable determinants of lack of blood pressure (BP) control in Spain are: a) the white coat phenomenon (accounting for 20-50% of false lack of control) due to not using ambulatory BP monitoring (current use, 20%) or self-BP measurement (use, 60%) for confirming HT diagnosis; b) insufficient patients adherence to BP reducing lifestyles (e.g., only 40% of hypertensive patients have a sodium intake < 2.4 g/day, or follow a weight reduction advice), and c) use of drug monotherapy (≈50%), usually insufficient to achieve adequate control. © 2017 SEHLELHA. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.