Background: Arterial hypertension is highly prevalent in Mexico; nevertheless, there are limited insights regarding its management during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we estimate the prevalence of clinical and treatment profiles of arterial hypertension and explore associated factors for undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension using a cross-sectional survey endorsed by the Collaborative Group on Arterial Hypertension from the Mexican Institute of Social Security.
Methods: Our survey was conducted from May to November 2021 using the May-Measurement Month 2021 protocols of the International Society of Hypertension. Arterial hypertension (defined as: blood pressure [BP] ≥140/90 mmHg, previous diagnosis, or taking antihypertensives) and its clinical and treatment profiles were classified according to the World Hypertension League Expert Committee. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to explore associated factors for undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension.
Results: Among 77,145 screened participants (women: 62.4%; median age: 46 [IQR: 32-59] years), the prevalence of arterial hypertension was 35.7% (95% CI: 35.3-36.0, n = 27,540). Among participants with arterial hypertension, 30.9% (95% CI: 30.4-31.5, n = 8,533) were undiagnosed, 6.6% (95% CI: 6.3%-6.9%, n = 1,806) were diagnosed but untreated, 43.4% (95% CI: 42.9-44.0, n = 11,965) had uncontrolled hypertension, and only 19% (95% CI: 18.6%-19.5%, n = 5,236) achieved hypertension control (BP < 130/80 mmHg). Explored associated factors for undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension include being men, living in the central and southern regions, lower educational attainments, higher use of pharmacological agents, and previous COVID-19 infection.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that adverse arterial hypertension profiles, mainly undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension, were highly prevalent during the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico.
Keywords: COVID-19; blood pressure; disease management; epidemiology; hypertension; public health.
Copyright © 2024 Palomo-Piñón, Antonio-Villa, Rangel-Zertuche, Berumen-Lechuga, Medina-Serrano, García-Cortés, Mejia-Rodríguez, León-Vázquez, González-Dzib, González-Coronado, Álvarez-Aguilar, Paniagua-Sierra, Alcocer and the Collaborative Group on Arterial Hypertension from the Mexican Institute of Social Security.