Factors associated with hypertension prevalence, unawareness and treatment among Costa Rican elderly

Abstract

Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for the main cause of death in adult populations world wide: cardio- vascular diseases (including ischemic heart disease and stroke) [1]. It is also one of the most frequent chronic conditions in medical consultation [2,3]. The prevalence of hypertension has increased worldwide, partially because of a more stringent definition of hypertension [4]. Latin American and Caribbean countries are facing an over-whelming increase in their elderly populations [5,6]. The 60+ population will increase from 300,000 in the 2000 Census to almost 2 million in 2060 in Costa Rica [7]. Both the increase in this population and the phenomenon that has been described as an epidemiological transition [8], make chronic diseases – hypertension included – increas- ingly important. The awareness of hypertension has increased, more people have begun treatment, and treatment has also improved [9,10]. But there is still much work to be done. The lowering of blood pressure either by using antihypertensive medications or changing lifestyles is known to significantly decrease cardiovascular mortality and morbidity [11], as well as hospitalization and outpatient consultation costs. It has been convincingly shown that treatment of hypertension reduces the risk of stroke, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, and mortality [12].