Objective. To assess the blood pressure control and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) in a population of hypertensive patients with access to care under a government-financed program, the Cardiovascular Health Program (CHP). Design. A cross-sectional and multicenter study. Setting. 52 primary care centers, metropolitan area of Santiago, Chile. Participants. 1,194 patients were selected by a systematic random sampling from a universe of 316,654 hypertensive patients. Key Measurements. Demographic information, blood pressure (BP) measurements, and CVRF were extracted from medical records of patients followed for a 12-month period. Results. 59.7% of patients reached target BP <140/90 mmHg. More women were captured in the sampling (2.1 : 1), achieving better BP control than men. Diabetic patients (26.4%) had worse BP control than nondiabetics. Antihypertensive medications were used in 91.5%, with multidrug therapy more frequent in patients with higher BP and more difficult control. Conclusions. The success in improving the BP control to values <140/90 mmHg from 45.3% to 59.7% underscores the contribution of this program in the Chilean primary care cardiovascular preventive strategies. However, fewer hypertensive men than women were captured by this program, and it is of concern the underperforming of BP control observed in diabetics.

Background Limited information exists on blood pressure (BP) control factors and adherence to antihypertensive drug therapy (Rx) in developing countries. Methods Cross-sectional study in randomly selected 992 hypertensive patients under a Chilean national comprehensive Cardiovascular Health Program (CVHP). Association of education, income, diabetes, obesity, physical activity, psychosocial characteristics, smoking, and alcohol abuse with BP control and adherence were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression. Results BP control (<140/90 mmHg) was achieved in 63.1% of patients, with 38.4% adherent to Rx. Uncontrolled BP significantly associated with male sex (OR: 1.73 [95% CI 1.35-2.22]), low family income, high emotional-stress-depression score, body mass index, no adherence (OR: 1.83 [95% CI 1.44 - 2.32]), multiple Rx, baseline systolic BP value, and sedentary life style. Males (OR: 1.54 [95% CI 1.23 - 1.93]), low family income, high emotional stress-depression score (OR: 2.15 [95% CI 1.68 - 2.76]), low social support, and uncontrolled BP (OR: 1.52 [95% CI 1.22-1.90]) associated with no adherence. Conclusions Comparable BP control (63.1%) to higher-income societies was observed. Uncontrolled BP associated significantly to no adherence and both to male sex, socioeconomic, and psychosocial factors. Global low adherence (38.4%) and improved BP control and adherence in diabetics were noted.

El control de la presión arterial (PA) es fundamental en reducir la morbi-mortalidad en hipertensos, pero con resultados hasta la fecha insatisfactorios en Chile y en países de alto desarrollo socioeconómico. En Chile se inició en 2002 el Programa de Salud Cardiovascular (PSCV) intentando mejorar el manejo de estos pacientes. Objetivos: Evaluar características sociodemográficas, clínicas, antropométricas, psicosociales y de estilos de vida de un grupo de pacientes participantes en el PSCV, y la influencia de estos factores en el control de la PA. Métodos: Se obtuvo una muestra aleatoria de 525 pacientes (380 mujeres) de un universo de 1.533 hipertensos entre 30 y 68 años bajo seguimiento en el PSCV. Se registraron datos sociodemográficos, clínicos, antropométricos, psicosociales y de estilos de vida a través de evaluación clínica y cuestionarios validados. La PA fue medida utilizando un protocolo estándar por personal entrenado. El análisis estadístico incluyó la predicción del riesgo (Odds RATIO) de PA no controlada por las diversas características estudiadas. Resultados: El 47% de los pacientes logró una PA controlada (<140/90 mmHg). La presencia de diabetes mellitus (DM) fue documentada en el 38,5%. Factores predictores significativos de PA no controlada fueron DM, baja educación, inadecuada relación médico paciente y alto nivel de estrés emocional/depresión. Conclusiones: El PSCV ha logrado un avance importante en el control de la PA resaltando la influencia significativa de factores psicosociales. Sin embargo es preocupante la alta proporción de hipertensos diabéticos, su inferior control de PA, y la limitada captación de hombres al programa. Palabras Claves: Hipertensión arterial, control de la presión arterial, atención primaria, factores psicosociales.

Influence of psychosocial factors on adherence to antihypertensive drug therapy.Results from a Cardiovascular Health Program cohort followed in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Chile (Rev Med Chile 2014; 142: 1245-1252

Inadecuado control de presión arterial (PA) y baja adherencia a tratamiento farmacológico (Rx) en hipertensos son problemas persistentes globales y en Chile. Factores socioeconómicos y psicosociales han sido frecuentemente mencionados, pero escasamente en Chile. Objetivo: Evaluar control de la PA y adherencia a Rx en hipertensos seguidos en el Programa de Salud Cardiovascular (PSCV) y su asociación con factores clínicos, socioeconómicos y psicosociales.