[Arterial hypertension in immigrant patients in Spanish primary health care]. / Prevalencia de la hipertensión arterial en la población inmigrante asistida en atención primaria en España.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the arterial hypertension (AHT) prevalence in a wide sample of immigrant patients. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A transversal and multicentric study that has included immigrant patients aged 18 years or more, consecutive sampling recruitment in primary healthcare consultations. The patient was defined with AHT hypertension when the average of 6 measurements in 3 visits (2 measurements per visit) was > or = 140 mmHg for the systolic blood pressure and/or 90 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure or if the patient had been previously diagnosed. RESULTS: 1,424 immigrants were followed-up (53.1% women) with average age (standard deviation) of 42.8 (13.1) years and mean stay in our country of 5.6 (5.7) years. Most of the patients' origin was Central and South America (40.2%) and Eastern Europe (21.9%). The prevalence of AHT was 31.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 30.1-32.7%), of which the 62.1% where known patients. Patients coming from Asia showed a significant higher prevalence of AHT (40.0%; 95% CI, 38.7-41.3). CONCLUSIONS: Three of each 10 immigrant patients have AHT. There are significant differences according to the gender, the origin and period of residence of these patients.

Prevalencia de la hipertensión arterial en la población inmigrante asistida en atención primaria en España / Arterial hypertension in immigrant patients in Spanish primary health care

Fundamento y objetivo: Valorar la prevalencia de hipertensión arterial (HTA) en una amplia muestra de pacientes inmigrantes. Pacientes y método: Se ha realizado un estudio transversal y multicéntrico en pacientes inmigrantes de 18 años o más seleccionados consecutivamente en consultas de atención primaria de toda España. Se consideró que el paciente presentaba HTA cuando el promedio de 6 medidas de presión arterial en 3 visitas (2 tomas por visita) era igual o mayor de 140 mmHg para la sistólica y/o 90 mmHg para la diastólica, o cuando estaba diagnosticado de tal enfermedad. Resultados: Se estudió a 1.424 inmigrantes (un 53,1% mujeres) con una edad media (desviación estándar) de 42,8 (13,1) años y estancia media en nuestro país de 5,6 (5,7) años. La mayoría procedía de América Central y del Sur (40,2%) y Europa del Este (21,9%). La prevalencia de HTA fue del 31,4% (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 30,1-32,7%); de éstos, el 62,1% sabía que era hipertenso. Los individuos que procedían de Asia presentaban una prevalencia de HTA significativamente mayor (40,0%; IC del 95%, 38,7-41,3%). Conclusiones: Tres de cada 10 pacientes inmigrantes tienen HTA. Se observan diferencias según el sexo, la procedencia y el tiempo de estancia de los individuos

Background and objective: To evaluate the arterial hypertension (AHT) prevalence in a wide sample of immigrant patients. Patients and method: A transversal and multicentric study that has included immigrant patients aged 18 years or more, consecutive sampling recruitment in primary healthcare consultations. The patient was defined with AHT hypertension when the average of 6 measurements in 3 visits (2 measurements per visit) was >= 140 mmHg for the systolic blood pressure and/or 90 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure or if the patient had been previously diagnosed. Results: 1,424 immigrants were followed-up (53.1% women) with average age (standard deviation) of 42.8 (13.1) years and mean stay in our country of 5.6 (5.7) years. Most of the patients' origin was Central and South America (40.2%) and Eastern Europe (21.9%). The prevalence of AHT was 31.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 30.1-32.7%), of which the 62.1% where known patients. Patients coming from Asia showed a significant higher prevalence of AHT (40.0%; 95% CI, 38.7-41.3). Conclusions: Three of each 10 immigrant patients have AHT. There are significant differences according to the gender, the origin and period of residence of these patients