Ericka Méndez Chacón
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Item Prevalencia de hipertensión en adultos mayores de Costa Rica(Población y Salud en Mesoamérica; Volumen 5, Número 1, 2007) Méndez Chacón, Ericka; Rosero Bixby, LuisEste artículo estima la prevalencia de hipertensión (controlada y con o sin diagnóstico previo) entre los adultos mayores costarricenses. Valora los problemas de medición y explora los factores asociados con la enfermedad. Se utilizan datos de una muestra nacional representativa del proyecto CRELES: Costa Rica: Estudio de Longevidad y Envejecimiento Saludable. Se realizaron dos mediciones de la presión arterial con monitores digitales a una muestra de 3000 adultos y se registró el auto reprte de la enfermedad y el uso de medicamentos antihipertensivos. La segunda medición resultó en valores significativamente menores tanto para la presión diastólica como para la sistólica. No se detectaron sesgos en la medición realizada por entrevistador ni por trimestre de trabajo de campo. El 59% de los adultos mayores del país sufre de hipertensión (HTA). La prevalencia es mayor entre las mujeres que entre los hombres. El 16% de todos los adultos mayores no tenían diagnóstico previo de HTA pero en nuestras mediciones resultaron con HTA. Los principales co-factores de HTA identificados en este artículo son: edad, estar asegurado, el índice de masa corporal, los antecedentes familiares, tener menos de 6 años de educación formal, ser fumador activo y consumir más de 3000 calorías al día.Item Factors associated with hypertension prevalence, unawareness and treatment among Costa Rican elderly(BMC Public Health 8(275), 2008) Méndez Chacón, Ericka; Santamaría Ulloa, Carolina; Rosero Bixby, LuisBackground: Reliable information on the prevalence of hypertension is crucial in the development of health policies for prevention, control, and early diagnosis of this condition. This study describes the prevalence of hypertension among Costa Rican elderly, and identifies co-factors associated with its prevalence, unawareness and treatment. Methods: The prevalence of hypertension is estimated for the Costa Rican elderly. Measurement error is assessed, and factors associated with high blood pressure are explored. Data for this study came from a nationally representative sample of about 2,800 individuals from CRELES (Costa Rica: Longevity and Healthy Aging Study). Two blood pressure measures were collected using digital monitors. Self reprts of previous diagnosis, and medications taken were also recorded as part of the study. Results: No evidence of information bias was found among interviewers, or over time. Hypertension prevalence in elderly Costa Ricans was found to be 65% (Males = 60%, Females = 69%). Twenty-five percent of the studied population did not reprt previous diagnoses of hypertension, but according to our measurement they had high blood pressure. The proportion of unaware men is higher than the proportion of unaware women (32% vs. 20%). The main factors associated with hypertension are: age, being overweight or obese, and family history of hypertension. For men, current smokers are 3 times more likely to be unaware of their condition than non smokers. Both men and women are less likely to be unaware of their condition if they have a family history of hypertension. Those women who are obese, diabetic, have suffered heart disease or stroke, or have been home visited by community health workers are less likely to be unaware of their hypertension. The odds of being treated are higher in educated individuals, those with a family history of hypertension, elderly with diabetes or those who have had heart disease. Conclusion: Sex differences in terms of hypertension prevalence, unawareness, and treatment in elderly people have been found. Despite national programs for hypertension detection and education, unawareness of hypertension remains high, particularly among elderly men. Modifiable factors identified to be associated with prevalence such as obesity and alcohol intake could be used in educational programs aimed at the detection and treatment of those individuals who have the condition