Objective: To assess the prevalence of hypertension, systolic isolated hypertension, knowledge about hypertension, pharmacologic treatment and control of hypertension in an elderly population.
Design: Cross-sectional survey, observational. PLACE AND PARTICIPANTS: Interview performed on a random sample of elderly community dwelling people 65 years and over stratified by age and sex, living in Leganés during 1990 (n = 1180). METHOD AND MAIN RESULTS: Information was collected at the elderly's homes with two interviews and a physical exam including blood pressure measurements. Two criteria were used for the analysis of hypertension: 1) WHO and 2) JNC V. In the study, hypertension was defined as elevated blood pressure according to the criteria and/or pharmacologic treatment for hypertension at the time of the interview.
Conclusion: Prevalence of combined hypertension among the elderly in Leganés is in the range of values observed in other studies undertaken in Spain and abroad. Elderly's knowledge about their hypertensive condition is high and physicians' choice of antihypertensive treatment seems adequate. The level of control achieved depends on the criteria used and although subject to improvement, is similar to the one observed in other countries.