The Prevalence of Hypertension and the State of Cardiovascular Health in Venezuela and Surrounding Nations

This review summarizes the prevalence of hypertension and the state of cardiovascular health in Venezuela and surrounding nations. First, the review discusses the fact that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of death in Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, and Trinidad and Tobago, accounting for...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ethnicity & disease 1998, Vol.8 (3), p.398-405
Main Authors: Hernández-Hernández, Rafael, Armas-Padilla, María Cristina, Armas-Hernández, Maria José, Velasco, Manuel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Brazil - epidemiology
Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology
Cardiovascular Diseases - mortality
Cerebrovascular Disorders - epidemiology
Cerebrovascular Disorders - mortality
Child
Child, Preschool
Colombia - epidemiology
Coronary Disease - epidemiology
Coronary Disease - mortality
Cross-Sectional Studies
Ethnic Groups
Female
Humans
Hypertension - epidemiology
Hypertension - mortality
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Middle Aged
Peru - epidemiology
Review/Commentary: Global Epideomiology
Trinidad and Tobago - epidemiology
Venezuela - epidemiology
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:This review summarizes the prevalence of hypertension and the state of cardiovascular health in Venezuela and surrounding nations. First, the review discusses the fact that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of death in Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, and Trinidad and Tobago, accounting for 20% to 35% of all deaths. These data are similar to data from the developed world. Second, prevalence of hypertension in this region varies from 8% to 40% in the adult population, and, on average, 22% of the adult population of this region has an elevated blood pressure. However, prevalence rates vary considerably from country to country and within regions of the same country. Although mortality from hypertension as the main cause of death accounts for 1% to 4% of all deaths, mortality from stroke, mainly caused by hypertension, accounts for 10% of all deaths, indicating a failure in the treatment of hypertension. In most Latin American countries, the degree of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension is low, necessitating the establishment of programs to prevent, detect and effectively treat hypertension and decrease CVD risk factors.
ISSN:1049-510X
1945-0826