Blood Pressure Control in the Population of Two Polyclinics in San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque

Abstract

Introduction: Due to its frequency in Cuba and in much of the world, arterial hypertension is very often managed, not only by professionals, but also among the general population. Their level of control varies among different populations. 

Objective: To identify, within the general population of two polyclinics in San José de Las Lajas, the controlled hypertensive population, as well as people who do not have the diagnosis and present figures above those accepted as controlled.

Methods: A rapid cross-sectional study was carried out using a survey, which included taking the blood pressure of the population attending the outpatient clinic for reasons unrelated to arterial hypertension in two polyclinics in San José de las Lajas. The universe was made up of 107 people who attended the "Rafael Echezarreta" Polyclinic on December 21, 2020, and 103 who attended the "Mártires del 9 de Abril" Polyclinic on December 22, 2020. Of the total of 210 patients, a sample of 62 people was randomly chosen from each of the two polyclinics studied.

Results: 57.3% of the respondents were female, 71% were between 40 and 69 years old. 50% of all patients studied had numbers of 140/90 or higher. Almost 73% of known hypertensive patients had a lack of control of the figures. 40.2% of those who reported not being known to be hypertensive had elevated blood pressure levels. 

Conclusions: The control of blood pressure figures in our population is something that requires greater efforts. Of the known hypertensive patients, more than 72% have elevated blood pressure. Of those who were not diagnosed, more than 40% had high numbers. Taking into account these data, it is concluded that more work needs to be done with known hypertensive patients as well as with those who do not know that they are hypertensive. Individual classification must play its true role in this regard.